1. A curved mirror can be formed from part of a sphere. There are two general types of curved mirrors. –A concave mirror causes light rays that are parallel to the principal axis to converge, or meet, at one point (the focus). –A convex mirror causes parallel light rays to diverge, or spread apart. 11.9 PROPERTIES OF CURVED MIRRORS concave (converging)mirror principal axis converge focus centre of curvature vertex convex (diverging) mirror diverge principal axis centre of curvature vertex

2. There are four imaging rules that you can use to locate the image of an object in a converging mirror. 11.9 HOW TO LOCATE THE IMAGE IN A CONVERGING (CONCAVE) MIRROR A light ray through the centre of curvature is reflected back onto itself. A light ray parallel to the principal axis is reflected through the focus. This is how the focus is defined. A ray through F will reflect parallel to the principal axis. A ray aimed at the vertex will follow the law of reflection.

3. Images in converging mirrors can be described using the same characteristics as with plane mirrors: size, attitude, location, and type. The image characteristics change, depending on where the object is located relative to the mirror. 11.9 IMAGE CHARACTERISTICS IN CONVERGING MIRRORS

4. There are three imaging rules that you can use to locate the image of an object in a diverging mirror. 11.9 HOW TO LOCATE THE IMAGE IN A DIVERGING (CONVEX) MIRROR

5. Images in diverging mirrors can be described using the same characteristics as with converging mirrors: size, attitude, location, and type. The image characteristics are always the same, no matter where the object is located relative to the mirror. The image is smaller, upright, behind the mirror, and virtual. 11.9 IMAGE CHARACTERISTICS IN DIVERGING MIRRORS

6. We use curved mirrors in many ways. 11.9 APPLICATIONS OF CURVED MIRRORS Type of MirrorWhere Mirror is UsedWhere Object is Located converging mirrorparabolic solar collector, parabolic solar cooker car headlight flashlight searchlight reflecting telescope radio telescope satellite dish beyond F shaving mirror makeup mirror between F and mirror diverging mirrorsecurity mirror side-view mirror on a vehicle any location