1. Characteristics & Ray Diagrams
Mirrors
Characteristics & Ray Diagrams

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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)

5. 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.

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

7. 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”

8. 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

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

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

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