Spherical Mirrors

Lecture 26
Physics II
Chapter 23
Ray Optics
Spherical Mirrors
Course website:
http://faculty.uml.edu/Andriy_Danylov/Teaching/PhysicsII
Lecture Capture:
http://echo360.uml.edu/danylov201415/physics2spring.html
95.144 Danylov Lecture 26

Department of Physics and Applied Physics
Flat Mirrors
Images in flat mirrors are the same size as the object and are located
behind the mirror.
Concave Mirrors
Like lenses, mirrors can form a variety of images. For
example, dental mirrors may produce a magnified image,
just as makeup mirrors
Convex Mirrors
Security mirrors in shops, on the other hand, form images that are
smaller than the object.
We will use the law of reflection to understand how mirrors form
images, and we will find that mirror images are analogous to those
formed by lenses.
Concave Mirrors

Concave Spherical Mirrors
 The figure shows a concave Focal length f
mirror, a mirror in which the
Parallel rays
edges curve toward the light
source. R
The focal length f is related to the mirror’s
radius of curvature by: Optical axis
F
It is very simple.
Compare with a complicated lens maker’s eq-n
1 1 1
1
Concave mirror
 Rays parallel to the optical

axis reflect and pass through
the focal point of the mirror.

Images with Concave Spherical Mirrors
There are three rays to find the image:
1. A ray parallel to the axis reflects through the focal point.
2. A ray through the focal point reflects parallel to the axis.
3. A ray striking the center of the mirror reflects at an equal Focal length, f
angle on the opposite side of the axis.
1
For a spherical mirror with negligible
thickness, the object and image 3
distances are related by:
Object 2
1 1 1 F
Mirror equation
Concave mirror
Image ′
′ Real, inverted
Magnification
2 S’
Sign convention for a concave mirror: S
;
The mirror sign conventions
f>0 f<0
Focal length, f
for a concave mirror for a convex mirror
s’ > 0, s’ < 0,
Image distance, s’
for a real image for a virtual image
m > 0, m < 0,
Magnification, m
for an upright image for an inverted image
Object distance, s s>0 s>0

A 3.0-cm-high object is located 20 cm from a concave mirror. The mirror's radius of
curvature is 80 cm. Determine the position, orientation, and height of the image.

Convex Mirrors

Convex Spherical Mirror
 The figure shows parallel light rays
approaching a mirror in which the Focal length f
edges curve away from the light
Parallel rays
source.
 This is called a convex mirror.

Optical axis
 The reflected rays appear to come from F

a point behind the mirror.
The focal length f is related to the mirror’s

radius of curvature by:

Images Formed by a Convex Mirror
f
S’
Object Optical axis Image F

Virtual
Upright
S Convex mirror
1 1 1
Mirror equation 2
Sign convention for a convex mirror:
′ ;
Magnification
Note! The image is always upright
and smaller than the object
Convex Mirror Applications
Convex mirror are used for a variety of safety and
monitoring applications, such as:
1) rearview mirrors
When an object is reflected in a convex mirror, the image appears smaller and
you may think that it is farther away from you.
That is why there is a warning sign: 2) The round mirrors used in stores
to keep an eye on the customers

ConcepTest Type of a Mirror
A. Flat Mirror
 What type of mirror is shown
in the photo where a guy B. Concave Mirror
stands right next to the mirror?
C. Convex Mirror
s<f
Convex Mirror
s<f
Since he stands right next to the mirror,

it means that S < f. Let’s consider both cases:
Concave Mirror
The image is upright and larger than the object.
It is only possible with a concave mirror
ConcepTest Cat in a spoon
 A cat looks at his reflection in the
bowl of spoon. The cat stands at A. Concave surface?
some large distance from the
spoon. B. Convex surface?
Is his image created by:
Concave surface
s>f of the spoon
Since he stands far from the spoon,

it means that S > f (usually f=R/2 of
the spoon is small). Let’s consider both cases: Convex surface
s>f
The image is upright. of the spoon
It is only possible with a convex surface of the spoon
Image in a spoon
Convex Mirror Concave Mirror

Telescopes
Astronomical telescopes need to gather as much light as possible, meaning that
the objective must be as large as possible. Hence, mirrors are used instead of
lenses, as they can be made much larger and with more precision.

Lenses-vs-mirrors
In my imaging experiment I only used mirrors (spherical, parabolic (OAP)).
Why did I prefer mirrors to lenses?
Lenses work with transmitted light and, as a result, light can be absorbed.
Which means we might have significant amount of laser power loss.
But mirrors work with reflected light and losses are much smaller.

What you should read
Chapter 23 (Knight)
Sections
 23.7 skip it
 23.8

Thank you
See you on Tuesday


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Lecture 26

95.144 Danylov Lecture 26

95.144 Danylov Lecture 26

 Rays parallel to the optical

95.144 Danylov Lecture 26

95.144 Danylov Lecture 26

95.144 Danylov Lecture 26

95.144 Danylov Lecture 26

 This is called a convex mirror.

 The reflected rays appear to come from F

The focal length f is related to the mirror’s

95.144 Danylov Lecture 26

Object Optical axis Image F

95.144 Danylov Lecture 26

Since he stands right next to the mirror,

Since he stands far from the spoon,

Convex Mirror Concave Mirror

95.144 Danylov Lecture 26

95.144 Danylov Lecture 26

95.144 Danylov Lecture 26

95.144 Danylov Lecture 26

95.144 Danylov Lecture 26

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