Object-Image

• A physical object is usually observed by

reflected light that diverges from the
object.
• An optical system (mirrors or lenses) can
produce an image of the object by
4.2 Mirrors redirecting the light.
• Images – Real Image
• Image formation by mirrors
– Virtual Image
• Plane mirror
• Curved mirrors.

Real Image Virtual Image

Optical System
ing
diverging converging diverging erg
diverging div

Object Object
real Image

Optical System virtual Image

Light appears to come from the virtual image but does not
Light passes through the real image pass through the virtual image
Film at the position of the real image is exposed.
Film at the position of the virtual image is not exposed.

Each point on the image can be determined

Image formed by a plane mirror. by tracing 2 rays from the object.
B p q B’
Object Image
The virtual image is formed
directly behind the object image
mirror.

Light does not A

A’
pass through
the image
mirror

A virtual image is formed by a plane mirror at a distance q behind the mirror.

q = -p

1
 A mirror reverses front and back Parabolic Mirrors

Optic Axis

object mirror image

mirror

The mirror image is different from the object.

The z direction is reversed in the mirror image. Parallel rays reflected by a parabolic mirror are focused at a point, called the
Focal Point located on the optic axis.
Your right hand is the mirror image of your left hand.

Parabolic Reflector Spherical mirrors

• Spherical mirrors can be used to form images
• Spherical mirrors are much easier to fabricate than
parabolic mirrors
• A spherical mirror is an approximation of a parabolic
mirror for small curvatures. (i.e. for paraxial rays –close to
parallel to the optic axis.
• Spherical mirrors can be convex or concave

light light
Parabolic mirrors can be used to focus incoming parallel rays to a small area
or to direct rays diverging from a small area into parallel rays.

concave convex

Ray tracing with a concave spherical mirrors

Parallel beams focus at the focal point of
• A ray parallel to the mirror axis reflects through the focal point, F
a Concave Mirror. which is at a point half the radius distance from the mirror along the
optic axis.
• A ray passing through the focal point reflects parallel to the mirror
axis
• A ray striking the center of the mirror reflects symmetrically around
the mirror axis
Focal point
• A ray that passes through the center of curvature C reflects and
passes back through itself
Law of
Reflection

Mirror C F
axis • •

R
F=
2

2
 The position of the image can be
determined from two rays from the Images formed by a concave mirror
object.

• •F
C

O>C
C>O>F F>O
When object distance > C Real
Real Virtual
The image is real, inverted, reduced Inverted
Inverted Upright
Reduced
Enlarged Enlarged

Simulation of image formation by a Why does the image goes from a real image
mirror to a virtual image when the object passes
through the focal point?

http://qbx6.ltu.edu/s_schneider/physlets/main/opticsbench.shtml • ••
Real Image F
PHYSLETS were developed at Davidson University by Wolfgang Christian.
When object distance is greater than F.

The reflected light converges.

A real image is formed where the light beams converge.

Why does the image goes from a real image

Why does the image goes from a real image
to a virtual image when the object passes
to a virtual image when the object passes
through the focal point?
through the focal point?

• • •
Virtual Image

When the object is directly at the focal point the reflected light is
parallel to the optic axis. When the object is closer than the focal point the reflected light diverges
from the mirror.
The parallel beams do not converge ( or converge at infinite distance
actually + or – infinity) The light appears to come from an image behind the mirror.

The image is a virtual image. (No light passes through the image point)

3
 Question
What image of yourself do you see when
you move toward a concave mirror?

Far away
Real image
Inverted
Reduced

C<O<F
Real image
Inverted O~F
Magnified Magnified Image
Real or Virtual?

Convex Mirror
Ray parallel to the optic axis
reflects so that the reflected ray
appears to pass through the focal point.

•
Focal Point

O<F Image is virtual, upright, reduced

Virtual Image
Upright
Enlarged

4
 Why does the convex mirror always form a
Convex Mirror virtual image?

• • •
•
Virtual Image

virtual, virtual,
upright, upright, The light reflected from a convex mirror is always
reduced reduced diverging.
The image is always virtual.

Question
Describe how your image would appear as
you approach a convex mirror?

Virtual Image
Upright
The image is
reduced in size
and the field of
view is larger.

Virtual Image
Upright

Virtual Image
Upright

5
 Mirror Equation
p Magnification
p – object distance O p
q – image distance O
f - focal length
•f h
1 1 1
+ =
•f
h’
p q f I q
h' q
M= =− I q
p is positive for real objects. h p
f is positive if the light from infinity goes through the focal point.
f positive for concave mirrors, f negative for convex mirrors
q is positive if the light goes through the image – real image q –positive – image is real
q is negative if light does not go through image – virtual image M is negative - the image is inverted.

Magnification Question
p A boy stands 2.0 m in front of a concave mirror with a focal
length of 0.50 m. Find the position of the image. Find
O the magnification. Is the image real or virtual? Is the
image inverted or erect?

h p
O
•f
h’
•
h' q I q I q
M= =− 1 1 1
+ =
h p p q f
1 1 1
= − q=
fp
=
0.5(2.0)
= 0.67m
Real image
q f p p−f 2.0 − 0.5
q is negative – the image is virtual
m=−
q =−
0.67
= −0.33 inverted
M is positive – the image is upright. p 2.0