1. Curved Mirrors: Concave
Applied Physics and Chemistry Reflection Lecture 2

2. Optics: Reflection, Refraction
05/25/2006
Curved mirrors
What if the mirror isn’t flat?
light still follows the same rules, with local surface normal
Parabolic mirrors have exact focus
spherical mirrors may experience distortion
used in telescopes, backyard satellite dishes, etc.
also forms virtual image
education.jlab.org/powerpoint/0708_optics_mirrors_and_lenses.ppt
Lecture 16

3. View kacleaveland's map
"Have you ever approached a giant concave mirror? See your upside-down image suspended in mid-air. Walk through the image to see a new reflection, right-side-up and greatly magnified. In the background you see reflected a room full of visitors enjoying other
Taken in a place with no name (See more photos or videos here)
View kacleaveland's map
Concave Mirrors
Curve inward
May be real or virtual image
education.jlab.org/powerpoint/0708_optics_mirrors_and_lenses.ppt

4. Concave Mirror The center C of a concave mirror is outside the mirror.
Focal point F is also outside the mirror, half way between the center and the surface of the mirror.
The focal length f is half of the radius of curvature.

5. Image from a concave mirror: case 1
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4

6. Image from a concave mirror: case 1

7. Properties of the Image
If we put an object outside of the center of a concave mirror, we find the image is
Real, in the sense that all light rays pass through the image.
Inverted, in the sense that the direction of the arrow has been changed.
The image is smaller!

8. Animation for case 1

9. Image for a concave mirror: case 2

10. If the object is in between the center and the focal point, the image is
Real
Inverted
Magnified in the sense that the image is bigger than the real object.

11. Animation for case 2

12. Image from a concave mirror: case 3

13. Image from a concave mirror: case 3

14. Animation for case 3

15. Properties of the image
If the object is closer to the mirror than the focal point F, the image is
Virtual, it is behind the mirror
Upright, not inverted
Magnified

16. Java Applet