Concave and Convex Mirror

Everything observable in our environment is due to light. When light beams from the source object are reflected to the observer, this occurs. The light source must be a polished or glossy surface that acts as a mirror for a decent reflection. This is due to a phenomenon known as light reflection, which does not modify the speed of light but rather reverses the direction of light striking on it. In order to have an excellent light reflection, the chosen surface must be spherical, smooth, and shiny. As a result, a spherical mirror is created by cutting a hollow spherical glass ball. The reflecting surface of a spherical mirror might be inside or outside, depending on the intended function.

Mirror

A mirror is a reflective surface that is smooth and well-polished. Mirrors are divided into two types: spherical and flat mirrors. When an object is placed in front of a mirror, the light bounces off it, creating either a real or a virtual picture of the thing. When the light beams really intersect, a true image is created. The apparent divergence of light rays from a point creates a virtual image. The virtual image is always formed by a plane mirror, whereas the virtual and actual pictures are created by a spherical mirror.

Concave mirror

When a hollow sphere is cut into certain pieces and the exterior surface of the cut part is painted, it becomes a mirror, with the interior surface reflecting light. As a result, you’ll have a concave mirror.

A concave mirror, also known as a converging mirror, is a mirror that is turned inwards in the middle. Furthermore, staring in this mirror will make us feel as if we are looking into a cave. When dealing with a concave mirror, we usually employ the mirror equation.

The equation for these mirrors defines the object’s position as well as its precise size. In a concave mirror, the angle of incidence is not the same as the angle of reflection. Furthermore, the angle of reflection in this scenario is determined by the area that the light strikes.

Properties 

1. After reflection, light converges at a point where it strikes and reflects back from the concave mirror reflecting surface. As a result, it’s also known as a converging mirror.
2. A magnified and virtual picture is observed when the converging mirror is put very close to the item.
3. However, as the distance between the item and the mirror grows, the size of the image shrinks and a true image emerges.
4. The picture generated by the concave mirror might be little or huge, real or virtual, and can be small or enormous.

Convex mirror

If the hollow sphere’s cut half is painted from the inside, the sphere’s outside surface becomes the reflecting surface. A convex mirror is the name given to this type of mirror. A convex mirror is a spherical mirror with its reflecting surface bent outwards. The back of the mirror is veiled, allowing reflection solely from the bulged outward portion. The bulged outwards surface of the spoon can be thought to be a convex mirror. It’s also called a diverging mirror because the light that reflects off its surface diverges in various ways but appears to come together at some locations to form a virtual, erect picture of reduced size.

Properties

1. A diverging mirror is also known as a convex or diverging mirror because it diverges light as it hits its reflecting surface.
2. Convex mirrors always produce or witness virtual, erect, and reduced pictures, regardless of the distance between the item and the mirror.
3. They don’t focus light on a single focal point.

Important points on concave and concave mirror:

• Convex mirrors are diverging mirrors, while concave mirrors are converging.
• Fish Eye mirrors are convex mirrors.
• The concave mirror’s mirror coating is on the outer side of the spherical surface, whereas the convex mirror’s mirror coating is on the inner side of the spherical surface.
• The focus is in front of the mirror in a concave mirror, and behind the mirror in a convex mirror.
• The picture generated in Concave Mirror is actual, inverted, and enlarged.
• The picture generated by a Convex Mirror is virtual, erect, and reduced.
• Concave mirrors are used in telescopes, shaving mirrors, torchlights, and other similar devices because they magnify objects.
• Because they cover a larger range of view, Convex Mirrors are utilised as side or rear-view mirrors in vehicles.

Conclusion

The first mirrors used by humans were most likely pools of water, according to the History of Spherical Mirrors in Human Civilization. Polished stone pieces were the first known studied and manufactured mirrors. Chinese folks used silver-mercury amalgams to build spherical mirrors around 500 AD. Claudius Ptolemy, a well-known physicist, experimented with curved polished iron mirrors.