FORCE, MOTION AND ENERGY

Quarter 2 – Week 5
IMAGES FORMED BY CURVED MIRRORS
1. A curved mirror is a reflecting surface in which its section is a section of a sphere. Its shape can be
spherical or parabolic.
2. There are two kinds of curved mirrors, the concave mirror and the convex mirror.
3. A spoon is a kind of curved mirror with a concave side (front side) and the convex side (back).
4. The principal focus ( F ), also known as focal point, is an imaginary point where the reflected rays meet
or the extended rays seem to meet. The focus of the curved mirror is located on the cave side of the
mirror.
5. The center of curvature (C ) is an imaginary point that is twice the distance of the principal focus.
6. If the reflected rays do not meet at the left side, they should meet at the right side. The extension of the
reflected rays is called the extended ray.
7. The principal axis, can be called normal line, is an imaginary line that is always perpendicular to the
mirror and connects the mirror to the principal focus and center of curvature.
8. The point where the principal axis meets the mirror is called vertex.
9. The focal length ( f ) is the distance from the vertex to the focal point of the mirror.
10. The radius of curvature (r ) is the distance from the vertex to the center of curvature of the mirror.
11. In equation, r =2 f .
12. A convex mirror is called diverging mirror because when the parallel incident rays hit the convex mirror,
they will diverge or spread out after reflection. When extending the reflected rays behind the mirror to
the right, the rays converge at the focus behind the mirror.
13. A concave mirror is called converging mirror because when the parallel incident rays hit the mirror, they
will converge or meet/intersect at a focal point ( F ). Remember that a focal point as you can see on the
illustration is the point at which rays meet after reflection. Now try to explore further on the
characteristics of images formed by curved mirrors.
14. Draw a spoon an label the convex and concave side. CURVE MIRROR
Convex Mirror Concave Mirror

15.
CONVEX MIRROR CONCAVE MIRROR

Center of Center of
Focal Point Curvature Focal Point Curvature

F C C F

Principal Axis Principal Axis

Vertex Vertex

16. How do light rays behave as they hit a curved mirror?

CONVEX MIRROR CONCAVE MIRROR

Incident rays
Incident rays

F Reflected rays F

Extended Rays
Reflected rays
1
Figure 1. Ray diagram of a Convex mirror. Figure 2. Ray diagram of a Concave mirror.
The most important light rays are those light rays with desirable direction of travel and the light rays that will hit
the mirror. Light rays follow 4 special paths before they hit the mirror. Note: The colors of the light rays
(represented by the arrows) are for reference only so that you will know which are the correct pair of incident
rays and reflected rays.

17. P–F Rays. The incident light rays are parallel to the principal axis and upon bouncing off the mirror, they
travel towards the principal focus.
CONVEX MIRROR CONCAVE MIRROR
P–F RAYS

F C C F

18. F–P Rays. The incident light rays from all directions pass the mirror’s principal focus before hitting the
mirror. Upon bouncing off the mirror, they travel parallel to the principal axis.
CONVEX MIRROR CONCAVE MIRROR
F–P RAYS

F C C F

19. C Rays. The incident light rays from all directions pass the mirror’s center of curvature before hitting the
mirror. Upon bouncing off the mirror, they travel at the same angle.
CONVEX MIRROR CONCAVE MIRROR
C RAYS

F C C F

20. V Rays. The incident light rays from all directions hit the vertex of the mirror. Upon bouncing off the
mirror, they travel at the same angle.

21. If you can see, the concave mirror produces an inverted image. Only the concave mirrors can
sometimes produce an inverted image. Convex mirrors always produce an upright image.

Direction: Read and understand the question. Under any circumstances, your answers must always be true,
and does NOT lack any requirements to be true. Write the correct answer in your answer sheet.

22. In front of a concave mirror, where should you place the object so that the image formed is virtual?

23. In front of a concave mirror, where should you place the object so that the image formed is real?

24. The object is moved closer and closer to the focal point of a concave mirror. What will happen to the
size of the image?

25. The object is moved farther and farther from the focal point of a concave mirror. What will happen to
the size of the image?
ACTIVITY 2. ANSWER BRIEFLY
1. Between the vertex and the focal point of the mirror
2. Beyond the focal point of the mirror
3. The image becomes larger
4. The image becomes smaller