Characteristics & Ray Diagrams Mirrors Characteristics & Ray Diagrams

Plane Mirrors Plane Mirror = a flat, smooth surface that reflects light by regular reflection. Created by coating glass with Silver Rays are reflected with equal angles of incidence and reflection

Plane Mirrors Vocabulary Object = the source of spreading of light rays Virtual Image = object seen in mirror Same size Same direction (up and down) Reversed (left to right) Appears to be behind mirror as far back as it is in front of mirror

Ray Diagram Properties Mirror Line (MN) = where mirror is located Line of Sight = line from image to an extreme angle (> 300) Reflected Ray = line traveling down line of sight from beyond mirror (arrow pointing away from mirror) Incident Ray = line traveling from object to where reflected ray hits mirror line (arrow pointing toward mirror)

Ray Diagram Properties (cont.) Normal line = line perpendicular to mirror, starting at point where incident & reflected ray converge Angle of Incidence = made from incident ray and normal line Angle of Reflection = made from reflected ray and normal line Angle of Incidence & Angle of Reflection should be equal.

P1 M N Reflected Ray Reflected Ray Reflected Angle P Incident Ray Incident Angle Normal Line

Curved Mirrors Reflection comes from inner “caved in” surface Rays will reflect with equal angles of incidence and reflection Rays parallel to the principal axis reflect and cross the principal axis at a point called the “focal point”

Curved Mirrors (cont.) Focal point (F) is located ½ the distance between the Center of curvature (C) and the mirror Concave mirrors produce a “real image” because the rays converge at a location in front of the mirror

Parts of a Concave Mirror Converge light to (F) N

Parts of a Convex Mirror Diverge light from (F) N

Rays Used to Find an Image #1 #2 P P1 C F #2 image #3 #1 Image = smaller, upside down, real N