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Convex mirror

Definition of the convex mirror

One type of mirror used in everyday life is the convex mirror. The convex mirror has curved shapes, where the mirror surface, which reflects light, curve forward.

Uses of the convex mirror

If you have ever seen a motorcycle or car rearview mirror, of course, you already know the use of the convex mirrors in everyday life. The mirrors are used as rearview mirrors because the images formed by convex mirrors are upright, and the images are smaller than objects so that it has the broader range of views. In addition to the smaller image size, all image formed by the convex mirrors are virtual.

The focal point of the convex mirror

If the surface of a mirror that reflects light is exposed to a very distant object such as Sun rays, then the beam of light emitted by the sun

will parallel with the principal axis of the mirror, as shown in the figure below. The principal axis is an imaginary line perpendicular to the center of the mirror surface. In the figure below, the principal axis coincides with the focal point (F) of the mirror.

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Convex mirror 1When strikes the surface of a mirror, each beam of light fulfill the law of reflection of light, where the angle of incidence is the same as the angle of reflection. If the dashed line is drawn from the base of the reflected light, all the dashed lines intersect at the same point, and this point is called the focal point (F) of the mirror.

The human eye sees the beam of light moving on a straight path and all the reflected light as if coming from the focal point of a mirror. The focal point is the image point of an object that is very far from the surface of the mirror, for example, sun and image are virtual.

The focal length of the convex mirror

Focal length (f) is the distance between the focal point (F) and the mirror surface. Point C is the center point of the mirror curvature. The focal length of the convex mirror is f (focal length = f = FQ) and the radius of curvature of the convex mirror is r (radius of curvature = r = CQ = CP).

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Convex mirror 2The incoming ray hits a mirror on P then is reflected by the convex mirror, where the reflected light seems to come from the focal point F. The dashed line CP is a normal line. The incoming light and reflected light fulfill the law of reflection of light where the angle of incidence (θ) is equal to the angle of reflection (θ), and this angle is equal to the angle of the triangle PCQ (θ). The angle of triangle PCQ is the same as the angle of triangle CPF, therefore, the PFC triangle is an equilateral triangle. Because the PFC triangle is an equilateral triangle, the length of the PF equals the length of the CF. Assuming the width of the mirror is smaller than the radius of curvature of the mirror, the length of the PF is considered equal to the length of the FQ. Because CF = PF and PF = FQ then CQ = 2 CF = 2 FQ. CQ = r = radius of curvature of the mirror and FQ = f = focal length of the mirror. Thus, it can be concluded that the radius of curvature of the convex mirror (r) = 2x focal length (f) convex mirror. Mathematically:

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r = 2f or f = r / 2

Image formation by the convex mirror

The concave mirrors can form real and virtual images, while the convex mirrors can only form virtual images. Regarding the image formation of an object by the convex mirrors has been explained in detail in the topic of image formation by the convex mirror.

Virtual image

Convex mirror 3When a convex mirror reflects the light coming towards the convex mirror surface, the direction of the reflected light

seems to come from the focal point of the convex mirror and the center point of the curvature of the convex mirror. Because light does not pass behind a convex mirror, the image formed is a virtual image. If you place the screen in a position where there is a virtual image, there is no image on the screen. The virtual image exists because the human eye sees rays of light moving straight and looks as if the beams are coming from the point where the virtual image is.

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