Determination of Focal Length of Concave Mirror

Determination of Focal
Length of Concave Mirror

Aim
To determine the focal length of:
 Concave mirror
 Convex lens by obtaining the image of a distant object.
Theory
How to Find Focal Length of Concave Mirror?
Following are the ways to obtain the focal length of the
concave mirror:
 A concave mirror is defined as the spherical mirror whose
reflecting surface is curved inwards and follows laws of reflection
of light.
 The light rays coming from a distant object can be considered to
be parallel to each other.
 If the image formed is real, inverted and very small in size, then
the parallel rays of light meet the point in the front of the mirror.
 The image formed by the convex lens is real and can be obtained
on the screen.
 f is used to denote the difference between the principal axis P and
the focus F of the concave mirror.
How to Find the Focal Length of Convex Lens?

Following are the ways to obtain the focal length of
convex lens:
 The convex lens is thicker in the middle and thinner at the edges
and is also known as the converging lens.
 The refracted rays from the parallel beam of light converge on the
other side of the convex lens.
 If the image is obtained at the focus of the lens, the image would
be real, inverted and very small.
 f is the focal length which is the difference between the optical
centre of the lens and the principal focus.
 The image can be obtained on the screen as the image formed by
the lens is real.
To Determine Focal Length of a Given Concave Mirror
Materials Required
1. A concave mirror
2. A measuring scale
3. A screen holder
4. A mirror holder
5. A mirror stand
Procedure
1. The distance between the selected distinct object should be more
than 50 ft.
2. The concave mirror placed on the mirror stand and the distant
object should be facing each other.
3. The screen should be placed in front of the reflecting surface of the
mirror. To obtain a clear, sharp image the screen should be
adjusted.
4. Using a metre scale the distance between the concave mirror and
screen can be determined. The distance is the same as the focal
length of the given concave mirror.
5. Repeat the above procedure thrice to calculate the average focal
length.
Experimental Setup:
Observation Table
Calculation
Following is the mean value of the focal length of
concave mirror:
Result
10 cm is the focal length of the concave mirror.
Precautions
1. To get a well illuminated and distinct image of the distinct
object, the distant object should be well illuminated.
2. A concave mirror should be always placed near an open
window.
3. The polished surface of the concave mirror and the
distinct object should be facing each other.
4. There should not be any hurdle between the rays of light
from the object and the concave mirror.
5. The screen and the concave mirror stand should be
parallel to the measuring scale.
6. The mirror holder along with the mirror should be
perpendicular to the measuring scale.
Conclusion
In this activity, we determined the focal length of a concave mirror using the u-v method or
by obtaining a sharp image of a distant object. The following conclusions can be drawn:
1. Focal Length Measurement: The focal length of the concave mirror was
successfully determined by measuring the distance between the mirror and the point
where the image was formed (focus).
2. Nature of Image: The concave mirror forms a real and inverted image when the
object is placed beyond the focal point.
3. Accuracy Factors: The accuracy of the focal length depends on precise
measurements of object distance (u) and image distance (v), proper alignment of the
mirror, and minimizing parallax error.
4. Applications: The principles of concave mirrors are used in devices like telescopes,
headlights, and shaving mirrors due to their ability to converge light.
This experiment demonstrates the reflective properties of concave mirrors and their practical
applications in focusing light.

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Determination of Focal Length of Concave Mirror

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Determination of Focal

Length of Concave Mirror

How to Find the Focal Length of Convex Lens?

To Determine Focal Length of a Given Concave Mirror

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