This lesson explains the difference between concave and convex mirrors: their shapes, how they reflect rays, the images they produce, typical applications, and the basic math for locating images. It mixes conceptual rules, everyday examples, a hands-on spoon lab, an optional math corner with equations and an example, and common misconceptions to check understanding.
Mirrors: Concave vs. Convex — Light’s Favorite Drama Queens "Concave concentrates; convex spreads." — Put this on a T-shirt and suddenly you’re great at optics. We’ve already time-traveled through the history of optics, admired the science-y glow up of light in labs, and measured its p...
Quick Recap (No Pop Quiz, Promise) Light travels in straight lines (until it doesn’t, but that’s for diffraction day). When light hits a smooth surface, it reflects: angle in = angle out. We use rays (little arrows) to model where light goes because trying to follow all photons is like herding...
Meet the Mirrors Concave Mirror (aka: the Glow-Up Mirror) Surface curves inward like the inside of a bowl. Reflective side is the “cave” side. Nickname: Converging mirror — it brings light rays together. concave: ) <- reflective side Convex Mirror (aka: the Wide-Angle Gossip) Surfa...
Anatomy of a Curved Mirror (Know These Names) Principal axis : The straight line through the center of the mirror. Center of curvature (C) : The center of the imaginary sphere your mirror is part of. Focal point (F) : Where parallel rays reflect to (concave) or seem to come from (convex). For ...
Ray Rules (AKA: How to Draw the Picture Without Crying) Use any two of these to locate an image: A ray parallel to the principal axis reflects through F (concave) or appears to come from F (convex). A ray through F reflects parallel to the axis (concave); for convex, aim toward F behind the mi...
What Images Do You Get? Concave Mirror If the object is far (beyond C): image is real, inverted, and smaller. If the object is at C: real, inverted, same size. Between C and F: real, inverted, magnified. Inside F (close to mirror): virtual, upright, magnified — hello, makeup mirror. ASCI...
Side-by-Side Showdown Feature Concave (Converging) Convex (Diverging) Surface curve Caves inward Bulges outward What rays do Converge toward F Diverge as if from F Focal point Real, in front of mirror Virtual, behind mirror Image types Real or virtual (depends on dist...
Try This at Home: The Spoon Lab Grab a shiny spoon. Yes, science with snacks. Look at your face in the bowl side (concave). Move in close. Does your face get magnified and upright? Now back up: does it flip and shrink? That flip happens as you pass the focal point. Flip the spoon to the back (...
Optional Math Corner (for the Nerds Who Love Numbers) These equations predict image location and size. Use with sign conventions (concave f positive, convex f negative; real distances in front of the mirror are positive; virtual behind can be negative, depending on your convention). Mirror equat...
Classic Confusions (Let’s Fix ‘Em) “Concave always magnifies.” Nope. Only when you’re inside F. Otherwise, it can shrink and invert. “Convex mirrors lie about distance.” They don’t lie; they show a reduced image so your brain misguesses distance. They trade size for a bigger view. “F is at the...
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