1. MIRRORS - AQA PHYSICS P3

2. Law of Reflection: equal angles
1. PLANE (FLAT) MIRROR
ACTUAL light path
APPARENT light path
normal
Law of Reflection: equal angles
VIEWER
OBJECT
IMAGE:
same size,
equal distance behind

3. PLANE MIRROR: UPRIGHT, SAME SIZE, VIRTUAL

4. CONCAVE MIRROR
normal
focus
Concave mirrors are CONVERGING

5. CONVEX MIRROR
virtual focus
Convex mirrors are DIVERGING

6. RAY DIAGRAMS FOR CURVED MIRRORS
focal length
1. Ray parallel to axis is reflected through the focus
2. Ray to centre is reflected at equal angle (law of reflection)
(3. Ray through focus is reflected parallel to axis)

7. 1. Draw the following on graph paper
2cm large square 2F F F 2F
2. Draw an object outside F at the position shown and at the size shown
3. Apply the ray diagram rules and draw in the image
4. Classify the image by filling in the table below. Repeat for other positions
CONCAVE
Object pos.
Image pos.
mag/dim
upright/Inverted
real/virtual
outside F
at F
inside F (4 *)
Uses
5. Repeat the process for CONVEX mirrors (use VIRTUAL FOCUS)
(*for Inside F make F 4 squares away)

8. 1. CONCAVE MIRROR: OBJECT OUTSIDE F
IMAGE: INVERTED, DIMISHED, REAL
uses

9. 2 CONCAVE MIRROR: OBJECT AT F
IMAGE: PARALLEL RAYS – NO IMAGE
uses

10. 3. CONCAVE MIRROR: OBJECT INSIDE F
IMAGE: UPRIGHT, MAGNIFIED, VIRTUAL
uses

11. 1. CONVEX MIRROR: OBJECT INSIDE F
IMAGE: UPRIGHT, DIMINISHED, VIRTUAL
uses

12. 2. CONVEX MIRROR: OBJECT OUTSIDE F
IMAGE: UPRIGHT, MAGNIFIED, VIRTUAL (AGAIN)
uses

13. 1. CONCAVE MIRROR: OBJECT OUTSIDE F
Real image then MAGNIFIED by eyepiece lens
Back to diagram

14. 2 CONCAVE MIRROR: OBJECT AT F
Used in 2 ways:
to project a parallel beam of light from the light source at the focus
OR in reverse – to focus incoming (distant) parallel waves

15. 2 CONCAVE MIRROR: OBJECT AT F: light from focus into parallel beam

16. 2 CONCAVE MIRROR: OBJECT AT F: parallel rays brought to focus
Solar power station
Solar cooker
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17. 3. CONCAVE MIRROR: OBJECT INSIDE F
Back to diagram

18. CONVEX MIRROR: ALL OBJECT POSITIONS
Security mirrors give a view of a wide area

19. The Arnolfini Marriage 1434
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The Arnolfini Marriage 1434