Plane And Spherical Mirrors

A spherical mirror with a reflecting surface curved outwards is called a convex mirror. Convex mirrors are curved mirrors that bulge outwards, causing light rays to diverge. They have a wider field of view and can reflect light over a larger area compared to concave mirrors. Convex mirrors are commonly used in rearview mirrors of vehicles as they provide a wider view of the surroundings, allowing the driver to see objects that are closer and at a wider angle.

The image formed by a plane mirror is not diminished. When an object is reflected in a plane mirror, the image appears to be the same size as the object. The image formed is virtual, meaning it cannot be projected onto a screen. It is also erect, meaning it is oriented in the same way as the object. Finally, the image is formed behind the mirror, as the light rays reflect off the mirror's surface.

A concave mirror can converge a parallel beam of light to a point due to its inward curvature. The curvature of the mirror causes the light rays to converge towards a focal point, where they meet and form a focused image. This property of the concave mirror makes it useful in applications such as telescopes and headlights, where the ability to focus light is required. Convex mirrors, on the other hand, have an outward curvature and cause light rays to diverge, making them unsuitable for converging a parallel beam of light. Spherical mirror is a general term that can refer to both concave and convex mirrors, so it is not a specific answer.

When an object is placed in front of a plane mirror, the image formed is located at the same distance behind the mirror as the object is in front of it. Therefore, if the object is placed at a distance of 0.5 m in front of the mirror, the image will also be formed at a distance of 0.5 m behind the mirror. So, the distance between the object and the image formed by the mirror will be 1 m.

The outer surface of a flat steel plate acts as a plane mirror because it reflects light in a straight line, without any distortion. On the other hand, the inner surface of the reflector of a torch acts as a concave mirror. A concave mirror curves inward, causing light rays to converge at a focal point, which helps to focus and direct the light emitted by the torch.