Locating Images in a Concave Mirror

Concave mirrors are also known as converging mirrors. These mirrors

are curved “in”.

The following rules apply when drawing incident rays and reflected rays
using a concave mirror:

1. A light ray parallel to the principal axis will reflect through the focus

2. A light ray through the centre of curvature is reflected back onto itself

3. A ray through F will reflect parallel to the principal axis

4. A ray aimed at the vertex will follow the law of reflection (angle of
incidence equals angle of reflection).

To determine the image of an object in front of a concave mirror you need

to draw at least 2 incident rays from the top of the object. These rays will
be reflected off the mirror and might cross to form an image. Draw the
real image where the rays intersect.

object
You will discover that the characteristics of an image (SALT) formed in a
concave mirror depend on the location of the object.

A) if the object is beyond C

Size Attitude Location Type

smaller inverted between C and F real

B) if the object is at C

Size Attitude Location Type

same inverted at C real

C) if the object is between C and F

Size Attitude Location Type

larger inverted beyond C real
D) if the object is inside F

Size Attitude Location Type

larger upright Behind the mirror virtual

E) if the object is at F,

 there will be no clear image

Summary Table:
Characteristics of Objects in Concave (converging) Mirrors

Object location Size Attitude Location Type

Beyond C

At C

Between C and F

Inside F

At F
 Locating Images in a Convex Mirror

Convex mirrors are also known as diverging mirrors. These mirrors

curve out.

The following rules apply when drawing incident rays and reflected rays
using a convex mirror:

1. A ray parallel to the principal axis is reflected as if it had come through

the focus.

2. A ray aimed at the centre of curvature is reflected back upon itself.

3. A ray aimed at the focus is reflected parallel to the principal axis.

Size Attitude Location Type

smaller upright Behind the mirror virtual
SUMMARY:

Convex mirrors
To determine the image of an object in front of a convex mirror:

1) Draw at least 2 incident rays from the top of the object

(according to the “rules”).
2) Reflect these off the mirror (according to the “rules”).
3) The reflected rays will NOT CROSS IN FRONT OF THE MIRROR
(because they diverge), and therefore no real image is
created.
4) SO, you extend the reflected rays backward (using dashed
lines – since they are not real light rays) to see if they will
cross behind the mirror.
5) The extended reflected rays always cross behind the mirror.
Because this is not real light crossing, the image is always
virtual.

Concave mirrors
To determine the image of an object in front of a concave mirror:

1) Draw at least 2 incident rays from the top of the object

(according to the “rules”).
2) Reflect these off the mirror (according to the “rules”).
3) The reflected rays will SOMETIMES cross in front of the
mirror, which means a real image is created (with real light
rays!) Where the rays cross shows you the top of your image.
4) If the reflected rays do NOT cross in front of the mirror, then
you extend them backward (dashed lines) to see if they cross
behind the mirror. If they do, a virtual image is created
behind the mirror.
5) IF the lines do NOT cross in front of the mirror OR behind the
mirror, then NO IMAGE AT ALL is formed!