Reflection of Light in a

Curved Mirror

EUGENE E. MORADA, T-1

Camalig National High School
Practice “CAMALIG”:
 C - Clean and disinfect
 A - Avoid close contact (at least 1 meter or 3
feet)
 M - Maintain good hygiene
 A - Always wear face masks and face shields
 L - Limit public exposure
 I - Immediately inform health authorities if you
feel unwell
 G - Guide others (self-care and care for
others are of equal priority)
4 Pics 1 Word

CONCAV
E
THINK and PICK

1. When the image of an object is seen in a

concave mirror the image will _____.

A. always be real
B. always be virtual
C. be either real or virtual
D. will always be magnified
2. When the object is at infinity in the case of a
concave mirror, the image formed has the
following properties.

A. The image is real.

B. The image is inverted.
C. The image is highly diminished to a point.
D. All of the above
3. Rays of light traveling parallel to the principal
axis of a concave mirror will come
together _____.

A. at the center of curvature

B. at the focal point
C. at infinity
D. at a point half way to the focal point
4. It is a curved mirror in which the reflective
surface bulges away from the light source.

A. concave mirror
B. convex mirror
C. plane mirror
D. all of these
5. The object in the image formed by this mirror
looks bigger than the original size of
the object.

A. concave mirror
B. convex mirror
C. plane mirror
D. all of these
 Perform Activity:
 What is the Magic Behind This?

1. What did you see on the mirror?

 Perform Activity:
 What is the Magic Behind This?

2. What did you notice about the size of the image on the
mirror?
 Perform Activity:
 What is the Magic Behind This?

3. Get a plane mirror and look at the image of your hand on

it. How will you compare the reflection/ image on a plane
mirror and the image formed in given picture above
 Perform Activity:
 What is the Magic Behind This?

4. What kitchen utensils at home will give you a bigger

image or reflection. Find them?
ACTIVITY: All About Me
 Study the concave mirror diagram that shows the focus
(F), focal length, center of curvature (2F),and principal
axis.
Quick guide in ray diagramming! 4:20 – 6:20
Spherical Mirrors – Concave & Convex

Also called DIVERGING mirror Also called CONVERGING mirror

Converging (Concave) Mirror
A converging mirror is one that is spherical in nature
by which it can FOCUS parallel light rays to a point
directly in front of its surface. Every spherical mirror
can do this and this special point is at a “fixed”
position for every mirror. We call this point the
FOCAL POINT. To find this point you MUST use
light from “infinity”

Light from an “infinite”

distance, most likely the
sun.
Converging (Concave) Mirror
Since the mirror is
spherical it technically
has a CENTER OF
CURVATURE, C. The
focal point happens to
be HALF this distance.

C
f 
2
C 2f
We also draw a line through the
center of the mirror and call it the
PRINCIPAL AXIS.
DEFINITION OF PARTS:

 Center of Curvature- the point in the center of

the sphere from which the mirror was sliced.
 Focal Point/Focus- the point between the
vertex and the center of curvature.
 Vertex- the point on the mirror's surface where
the principal axis meets the mirror.
 Principal Axis- line passing through the
center of the sphere and attaching to the
mirror in the exact center of the mirror.
 Radius of Curvature- the distance from the
vertex to the center of curvature.
 Focal Length- the distance from the mirror to
the focal point.
Characteristics of Image Formed by
Concave Mirror
 Concave mirrors can produce both real and
virtual images.
 They can be upright (if virtual) or inverted (if
real).
 They can be behind the mirror (if virtual) or in
front of the mirror (if real).
 They can also be enlarged, reduced, or the
same size as object.
 Ray Diagram
A ray diagram is a pictorial representation of how the
light travels to form an image and can tell you the
characteristics of the image.

object C f
Principal axis

Rule One: Draw a ray, starting from the top of the object, parallel to the
principal axis and then through “f” after reflection.
Ray Diagrams

object C f
Principal axis

Rule Two: Draw a ray, starting from the top of the object, through the focal
point, then parallel to the principal axis after reflection.
Ray Diagrams

object C f
Principal axis

Rule Three: Draw a ray, starting from the top of the object, through C, then
back upon itself.

What do you notice about the three lines

that are being reflected? THEY INTERSECT

The intersection is the location of the image.

 Ray Diagram – Image Characteristics

object C f
Principal axis

After getting the intersection, draw an arrow down from the principal axis to
the point of intersection. Then ask yourself these questions:

1) Is the image on the SAME or OPPOSITE side of the mirror as the object?
Same, therefore it is a REAL IMAGE.
2) Is the image ENLARGED or REDUCED?
3) Is the image INVERTED or RIGHT SIDE UP?
 The Mirror/Lens Equation
Is there any OTHER way to predict image characteristics besides the ray diagram?
YES!

One way is to use the MIRROR/LENS equation to CALCULATE the position of the image.

1 1 1
 
f do di
Activity A: Looking at Me
A. B.

1. Which picture is a concave mirror?

._________________________________
2. Why do you say so?

______________________________________________
Activity B: Words Completion
 Study the image in each situation
and supply the missing letters to
complete the words that will
identify the properties of a curved
mirror.
 Don’t forget to practice “CAMALIG”

in doing such activity.

Activity C: Fill Me Up!
IMAGE
Location of the Location Orientation Size (same, Type ( real or
Object (upright or reduced, or virtual)
CONCAVE MIRROR
inverted) enlarged)

1. Farther than the

Center of Curvature
2. At the Center of
Curvature
3. Between the
Center of Curvature
and the Focal point

4. At the Focal point

5. Between the
Focal point and the
Center of the lens
(vertex)
 IMAGE
Location of the Location Orientation Size (same, Type ( real or
Object (upright or reduced, or virtual)
inverted) enlarged)
CONCAVE MIRROR

1. Farther than the Between Inverted reduced Real

Center of Curvature C and F
2. At the Center of At C Inverted Same Real
Curvature
3. Between the Beyond C Inverted Enlarged Real
Center of Curvature
and the Focal point
4. At the Focal point No Image is formed

5. Between the Behind the Upright enlarged virtual

Focal point and the mirror
Center of the lens
(vertex)
THANK YOU!!!
