Mirror Equation

• Ray diagrams are useful for

determining the general location and
size of the image formed by a mirror.
• However, the mirror equation and
magnification equation give a more
accurate mathematical description of
the image
 Mirror Equation
• f = focal length of the mirror
• do = object distance (distance
between the object and the mirror.
• di = the image distance (distance
between the image and the mirror)
• m = magnification of the mirror
 Mirror Equation
1 1 1
• + =
𝑑𝑜 𝑑𝑖 𝑓

• For a complete derivation of the

mirror equation, see page 784-785 in
your book.
 Magnification Equation
𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡,ℎ𝑖 𝑑𝑖
•𝑚 = = −
𝑜𝑏𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡 ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡,ℎ𝑜 𝑑𝑜

• For a complete derivation of the

mirror equation, see page 784-785 in
your book.
Sign Conventions for Spherical Mirrors
• Focal length
f is + for a concave mirror
f is – for a convex mirror
• Object distance
do is + if obj is real (in front of mirror)
do is – if obj is virtual (behind the mirror)
Sign Conventions for Spherical Mirrors
• Image distance
di is + if image is real (in front of mirror)
di is – if image is virtual (behind the
mirror)
• Magnification
m is + if the image is upright (w/r/t object)
m is – if the image is inverted (w/r/t obj)
 Example 1
• A 2.0 cm high object is placed 7.10cm
from a concave mirror whose radius of
curvature is 10.20 cm.
• A) find the location of the image
• B) find the size of the image
 Example 1
• A 2.0 cm high object is placed 7.10cm
from a concave mirror whose radius of
curvature is 10.20 cm.
• f=1/2R = ½(10.20)=5.10cm, so the
object is located between the center
of curvature and the focal point.
 Example 1
• A 2.0 cm high object is placed 7.10cm from a
concave mirror whose radius of curvature is
10.20 cm.
• f=1/2R = ½(10.20)=5.10cm
• do= 7.10 cm and f=5.10cm
1 1 1
• + =
𝑑𝑜 𝑑𝑖 𝑓
1 1 1
• = − 1/di = 1/5.10 – 1/7.10
𝑑𝑖 𝑓 𝑑𝑜
• di = 18 cm (so image is real)
 Example 1
• A 2.0 cm high object is placed 7.10cm
from a concave mirror whose radius of
curvature is 10.20 cm.
ℎ𝑖 𝑑𝑖
•𝑚= =−
ℎ𝑜 𝑑𝑜
𝑑𝑖
• ℎ𝑖 = − (ℎ𝑜)
𝑑𝑜
• =-(18cm/7.10cm)(2.0cm) = -5.1cm
• Image is inverted (negative sign)