Spherical Mirrors – Concave and Convex
A spherical mirror is a mirror whose reflecting surface is a part of a hollow sphere. These mirrors are widely used in daily life due to their ability to form different types of images. 📌 Types of Spherical Mirrors: 📐 Important Terms Related to Spherical Mirrors Understanding these terms is essential for ray diagrams and numericals: 🔵 1. Pole (P) 👉 It acts as the reference point for measuring distances. 🔵 2. Centre of Curvature (C) 👉 For a concave mirror → in front of the mirror👉 For a convex mirror → behind the mirror 🔵 3. Radius of Curvature (R) 👉 Formula:R = PC 👉 It is always twice the focal length:R = 2f 🔵 4. Principal Axis 👉 All important points lie on this axis. 🔵 5. Principal Focus (F) 👉 For concave mirror → real focus (in front)👉 For convex mirror → virtual focus (behind) 🔵 6. Focal Length (f) 👉 Formula:f = R/2 🔵 7. Aperture 👉 A larger aperture → wider area to collect light 📊 Summary Table Term Definition Concave Mirror Convex Mirror Pole (P) Center of mirror On surface On surface Centre of Curvature (C) Center of sphere In front Behind Focus (F) Point of reflection Real Virtual Focal Length (f) Distance PF Positive/Negative (depends on sign convention) Positive/Negative Radius (R) Distance PC R = 2f R = 2f Aperture Mirror size Same Same 🔎 Image Formation by Concave Mirror 🚗 Convex Mirror Characteristics 👉 That’s why it is used as a rear-view mirror in vehicles. 🌍 Real-Life Examples ❓ MCQs Provide your answers in comments
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