Agenda
Warm-Up Review HW Introduction to Curved Mirrors Notes:
Mirror and Lens Terminology Concave Spherical Mirrors Convex Spherical Mirrors Parabolic Mirrors
Tests Back Time Permitting
Objective(s): Students will be able to…
Predict and describe the reflected image in a curved mirror relative to distance from the mirror.
Distinguish between real and virtual images. Describe how parabolic mirrors differ from spherical
mirrors.
Curved Mirrors
Where do we see them? Driveways, spoons,
dressing tables, passenger sides of cars, etc.
What do they do? Magnify or shrink
images Distort images Project images Brighten or dim images
Terminology
Focal point: the point at which reflected or refracted rays of light converge (meet)
Concave: inwardly curved Convex: outwardly curved Real image: image formed when rays of light
actually intersect at a single point Virtual image: image formed by rays of light that
only appear to intersect
Concave Spherical Mirrors
Concave mirrors can display both real and virtual images.
The type of image displayed depends on the object’s position relative to the focal point. (see the following…)
Concave Spherical MirrorsObject Closer than Focal Point
When the object is closer than the focal point:
The image is virtual The image is
magnified
Concave Spherical MirrorsObject Farther than Focal Point
When the object is farther than the focal point:
The image is real, and can be projected onto another surface
The image is shrunken
Concave Spherical MirrorsObject at the Focal Length
When the object is at the focal length:
The image is created directly over the object!
The image is unseen.
Convex Spherical Mirrors Objects appear smaller
(think your passenger- side mirror on your car)
Wider area can be seen (like in a convenience store, to catch you delinquent kids)
Images are only upright and only virtual
Parabolic Mirrors
With spherical mirrors, the closer the image gets to the edge of a mirror, the more the image is distorted.
This is called spherical aberration.
Parabolic Mirrors
Parabolas focus every incoming wave to one focal point.
This eliminates the spherical aberration.
Paraboloid shapes are used for satellite dishes, solar panels, telescopes, etc.
Type of Mirror
Image and Details Example
Flat Virtual image is reflected. Same size as object.
Standard bathroom mirror. Ballet studio.
Concave Spherical
•If object closer than focal length, virtual image is magnified and upright.•If object is farther than focal length, real image is inverted.•If object is at focal length, real image is projected onto the object.
Dressing table mirror.
Convex Spherical
Virtual image is smaller than original.
Passenger side mirror.
Parabolic Focuses all waves into one point. Virtual Image.
Solar panel.
Types of Mirrors and Images