Curved mirrors {curved mirror} focus incoming parallel light rays onto point {focus, mirror}.
types
Curved mirrors {spherical mirror} can have constant radius. Spherical mirrors {convex mirror} can curve out. Curvature radius is positive if curve is convex. For convex mirrors, image is always virtual and erect. For convex mirrors, if object is inside focal point, image is bigger. For convex mirrors, if object is outside focal point, image is smaller.
Spherical mirrors {concave mirror} can curve in. Curvature radius is negative if curve is concave. For concave mirrors, if object is outside focal point, image is real and inverted. For concave mirrors, if object is inside focal point, image is virtual, erect, and bigger.
Curved mirrors {parabolic mirror} can have changing radius.
magnification
Ratio of image size I to object size O equals ratio of distance q of image from mirror to distance p of object from mirror: I/O = q/p.
focal length
Focal length F is spherical-mirror curvature radius R divided by two: F = R/2.
Physical Sciences>Physics>Wave>Superposition>Reflection>Mirror
5-Physics-Wave-Superposition-Reflection-Mirror
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Date Modified: 2022.0224