Mirrors Ch. 20

Mirrors Mirror – any smooth object that reflects light to form an image

Mirrors Focal Point – light rays all pass through the same point Focal Length – distance from center of mirror to focal point

Mirrors Plane Mirrors – –Flat surface –Produces upright images –Image appears to be behind the mirror –Light comes from in front of the mirror – does not pass through (opaque) –Virtual image – no light passes through the image –Distance in front = distance behind

Mirrors Concave Mirror Curved inward, like the inside of a spoon Converging rays – come together Depending on where the object is, 3 different things happen:

Mirrors Object further out than the focal point (F) –Image will be upside down and real –Rays meet at image so you could actually see it –Hold a screen there and see it

Mirrors Object placed in between the focal point (F) and mirror –Image will be upright, enlarged and virtual –Example: hand mirrors

Mirrors Object placed at focal point –Concentrated light beam –No image because rays don’t converge –Examples: lighthouse, spotlights

Mirrors Convex Mirror –Curves outward –Allow large areas to be viewed –Diverging rays – spread out

Mirrors Convex Mirrors –Image is virtual, upright, smaller than original object –Examples: security mirrors, rear and side view mirrors (objects are closer than they appear)

Mirrors