1. Chapter 34B - Reflection and Mirrors II (Analytical)
A PowerPoint Presentation by
Paul E. Tippens, Professor of Physics
Southern Polytechnic State University
© 2007

2. Objectives: After completing this module, you should be able to:
Define and illustrate the following terms: real and virtual images, converging and diverging mirrors, focal length, and magnification.
Understand and apply the sign conventions that apply to focal lengths, image distances, image heights, and magnification.
Predict mathematically the nature, size, and location of images formed by spherical mirrors.
Determine mathematically the magnification and/or the focal length of spherical mirrors.

3. Analytical Optics
In this unit, we will discuss analytical relationships to describe mirror images more accurately. But first we will review some graphical principles covered in Module 34a on light reflection.

4. The Plane Mirror = Object distance Image distance p = q p q
Image is virtual
Object distance: The straight-line distance p from the surface of a mirror to the object.
Image distance: The straight-line distance q from the surface of a mirror to the image.

5. Spherical Mirrors
A spherical mirror is formed by the inside (concave) or outside (convex) surfaces of a sphere.
Concave Mirror
Radius of Curvature R
Vertex V
Center of Curvature C
Linear aperture V C R
Axis
A concave spherical mirror is shown here with parts identified.
The axis and linear aperture are shown.

6. The Focal Length f of a Mirror
Since qi = qr, we find that F is mid- way between V and C; we find:
Incident parallel ray qr qi R F C V
The focal length f is:
axis f
Focal point
The focal length, f
The focal length f is equal to half the radius R

7. Converging and Diverging Mirrors
Concave mirrors and converging parallel rays will be called converging mirrors.
Convex mirrors and diverging parallel rays will be called diverging mirrors. C F
Converging Mirror
Concave C F
Diverging Mirror
Convex

8. Definitions
Focal length: The straight-line distance f from the surface of a mirror to focus of the mirror.
Magnification: The ratio of the size of the image to the size of the object.
Real image: An image formed by real light rays that can be projected on a screen.
Virtual image: An image that appears to be at a location where no light rays reach.
Converging and diverging mirrors: Refer to the reflection of parallel rays from surface of mirror.

9. Image Construction Summary:
Ray 1: A ray parallel to mirror axis passes through the focal point of a concave mirror or appears to come from the focal point of a convex mirror.
Ray 2: A ray passing through the focus of a concave mirror or proceeding toward the focus of a convex mirror is reflected parallel to the mirror axis.
Ray 3: A ray that proceeds along a radius is always reflected back along its original path.

10. Examples of Image Construction
The three principal rays for both converging (concave) and diverging (convex) mirrors. C F
Converging mirror C
Diverging mirror F
Ray 1
Ray 3
Ray 1
Ray 3
Ray 2
Ray 2
Image

11. Review of Imaging Facts
For plane mirrors, the object distance equals the image distance and all images are erect and virtual.
For converging mirrors and diverging mirrors, the focal length is equal to one-half the radius.
All images formed from convex mirrors are erect, virtual, and diminished in size.
Except for objects located inside the focus (which are erect and virtual), all images formed by converging mirrors are real and inverted.

12. Questions About Images
1. Is the image erect or inverted?
2. Is the image real or virtual?
3. Is it enlarged, diminished, or the same size?
4. What are object and image distances p and q?
5. What is the height y’ or size of image?
6. What is the magnification M = y’/y of image?

13. Definition of Symbols
By applying algebra and geometry to ray-tracing diagrams, such as the one below, one can derive a relationship for predicting the location of images. y Y’ R q p f
Object dist. p
Image dist. q
Focal length f
Radius R
Object size y
Image size y’

14. Mirror Equation
The following equations are given without derivation. They apply equally well for both converging and diverging mirrors. y Y’ R q p f

15. Sign Convention
1. Object distance p is positive for real objects and negative for virtual objects.
2. Image distance q is positive for real images and negative for virtual images.
3. The focal length f and the radius of curvature R is positive for converging mirrors and negative for diverging mirrors.

16. Example 1. A 6 cm pencil is placed 50 cm from the vertex of a 40-cm diameter mirror. What are the location and nature of the image? C F p q f
Sketch the rough image.
p = 50 cm; R = 40 cm

17. Example 1 (Cont. ). What are the location and nature of the image
Example 1 (Cont.). What are the location and nature of the image? (p = 50 cm; f = 20 cm) C F p q f
q = cm
The image is real (+q), inverted, diminished, and located 33.3 cm from mirror (between F and C).

18. Working With Reciprocals:
The mirror equation can easily be solved by using the reciprocal button (1/x) on most calculators:
Possible sequence for finding f on linear calculators:
P q
1/x + =
Finding f:
Same with reverse notation calculators might be:
Finding f:
P q
1/x +
Enter

19. Alternative Solutions
It might be useful to solve the mirror equation algebraically for each of the parameters:
Be careful with substitution of signed numbers!

20. Example 2: An arrow is placed 30 cm from the surface of a polished sphere of radius 80 cm. What is the location and nature of image?
Draw image sketch:
p = 30 cm; R = -80 cm
Solve the mirror equation for q, then watch signs carefully on substitution:

21. Example 2 (Cont.) Find location and nature of image when p = 30 cm and q = -40 cm.
The image is virtual (-q), erect, and diminished. It appears to be located at a distance of 17.1 cm behind the mirror.

22. Magnification of Images
The magnification M of an image is the ratio of the image size y’ to the object size y.
Magnification:
Obj.
Img.
M = +2
M = -1/2
y y’
y and y’ are positive when erect; negative inverted.
q is positive when real; negative when virtual.
M is positive when image erect; negative inverted.

23. Example 3. An 8-cm wrench is placed 10 cm from a diverging mirror of f = -20 cm. What is the location and size of the image? Y’ Y p q
Virtual image
Converging mirror F C
Wrench
q = cm
Virtual !
Magnification:
M =
Since M = y’/y y’ = My or:
y’ = cm

24. Example 4. How close must a girl’s face be to a converging mirror of focal length 25 cm, in order that she sees an erect image that is twice as large? (M = +2)
Also,
Thus,
f = -2(p - f) = -2p + 2f
p = 12.5 cm
f = -2p + 2f

25. Summary
The following equations apply equally well for both converging and diverging mirrors. y Y’ R q p f

26. Summary: Sign Convention
1. Object distance p is positive for real objects and negative for virtual objects.
2. Image distance q is positive for real images and negative for virtual images.
3. The focal length f and the radius of curvature R is positive for converging mirrors and negative for diverging mirrors.
4. The image size y’ and the magnification M of images is positive for erect images and negative for inverted images.

27. Summary: Magnification
The magnification M of an image is the ratio of the image size y’ to the object size y.
Magnification:
Obj.
Img.
M = +2
M = -1/2
y y’
y and y’ are positive when erect; negative inverted.
q is positive when real; negative when virtual.
M is positive when image erect; negative inverted.

28. CONCLUSION: Chapter 34B Reflection and Mirrors II (Analytical)