Mirror
Mirror
Mirror
•refers to highly polished surface that usually made of glass coated with silver or aluminum on
one surface.
• is an object with a surface that has good specular reflection
Reflection of Light
• is the bouncing back of light waves when it hits a barrier or boundary of another medium.
Formation of Images
Object - is a source of light rays that are to be reflected by a mirrored surface.
Image - is a visual reproduction of an object formed by a mirror or a lens
Types of Image
1) Virtual images - occur when light rays do not actually meet at the image.
Properties of a Virtual Image
• No light actually passes at the apparent location of the image.
• A virtual image is formed at the back of the mirror.
• It is always upright.
• It can be enlarged or reduced in size.
2) Real Images – occur when light rays actually intersect at the image, making them
appear inverted, or upside down.
Properties of a Real Image
• It is formed by the actual intersection of light rays after encountering a mirror.
• A real image is formed in front of the mirror.
• It is always inverted.
• It can be larger or smaller or same size
Types of Mirrors
1) Plane Mirror - consists of a flat, two-dimensional surface that reflects the light coming
from or reflecting off another object.
Lateral Inversion - means the apparent reversal of the mirror image’s left and right when
compared with the object.
Concave Mirror
• A concave mirror is a mirror that is curved inward like the hollow inside of a sphere.
• Type of Image: Virtual or Real
• Orientation: upright (erect) or inverted (upside-down)
• Magnification: magnified (larger), reduced (smaller), same size
Convex Mirror
• A convex mirror is a mirror that is curved outward, like the outside of a sphere.
• Type of Image: Virtual
• Orientation: upright (erect)
• Magnification: reduced (smaller)
Vertex (V) – The point where the mirror crosses the principal axis.
Radius of curvature (R) – the distance from the center of curvature to the vertex of the mirror;
it corresponds to the radius of the circle.
Principal Axis – A line drawn through the vertex, focus and center of curvature of the mirror
upon which the object rests.
Center of Curvature (C) – the center of the circle of which the mirror represents a small arc.
Focus (F) – the point where parallel light rays converge; the focus is always found on the inner
part of the circle of which the mirror is a small arc; the focus of a mirror is one-half the radius
focal length (f) – the distance from the focus to the vertex of the mirror.
Convex Mirror
• Convex mirrors are always virtual, upright and smaller than the object.
Applications of a Convex Mirror
• Convex mirrors are installed in lift truck operators and large vehicles to prevent collisions.
• Ceiling dome mirrors are ideal for surveillance in shops, offices and industrial environments.
• Cab front rear-view mirrors can be used to prevent forklift truck accidents.
• Portable inspection mirrors can be used for security and safety purposes.
• is a piece of transparent material, such as a glass or plastic, that is used to focus light and
form an image.
Refraction - bending of light as it travels obliquely from one medium to another medium with a
different optical density.
Converging Lens
Diverging Lens
• is a lens that is thinner at the middle than the edges.
• It is also known a concave lens.
• A concave lens often is called a diverging lens because when surrounded by material with a
lower index of refraction rays passing through it spreading out.