Reflections in Curved Mirrors

7SCIENCE

Curved mirrors

• Not all mirrors are flat, some may be circular in shape and curved

• Curved mirrors exist for different purposes– Concave – Convex

• Light rays travel in parallel (straight) lines and strike the mirror and are reflected

Concave mirrors• Light rays reflect and meet at one point • Reflected through a point called the focal point• The distance between the focal point to the

center of the mirror is called a focal length

Concave mirror

• Concave = forms a ‘cave’ like inside of a spoon

• The image formed depends on the distance of the object from the focal point of the mirror– If the object is between the

focal point and the mirror, the image appears inverted (upside down) and smaller

– If the object is past the focal point, the image appears upright and larger

Convex mirror• Curves outward ex. outside of a spoon• Causes light rays to spread apart• Image is always upright and smaller than the

object• Ex. Security mirrors, car/truck mirrors– “things are larger and closer than they seem”