Mirrors and Lenses

Mirrors
Mirrors form images using the property of
light called reflection, unlike lenses which
form images using refraction.

Mirrors are smooth reflecting surfaces.

A plane mirror is a flat surface. Usually it is

glass coated with a reflective metallic
substance.
Virtual Images are basically images which cannot be
visually projected on a screen.
Virtual Images
If this box gave off
light, we could
project an image of
this box on to a
screen provided the
screen was on the
SAME SIDE as the
box.
You would not be able to project
the image of the vase or your face
in a mirror on a screen, therefore it
is a virtual image.

CONCLUSION: VIRTUAL IMAGES are ALWAYS on

the OPPOSITE side of the mirror relative to the
object.
 Real Image
Real Images are ones you can project on to a screen.

For MIRRORS they always appear on the SAME SIDE of the mirror as the object.

The characteristics of the

image, however, may be
different from the original
object. These
characteristics are:
object
SIZE
(reduced,enlarged,same
size)
POSITION (same side,
image opposite side)
ORIENTATION (right side
up, inverted)

What if the mirror isnt flat?

Types of Mirrors
Plane mirror- flat mirror
Ex. everyday, bathroom mirror
Convex mirrors - bend outward
Ex. the back of a spoon, sideview mirrors
Concave mirrors - bend inward
Ex. satellite dishes, the front of a spoon
Plane mirrors

Image is behind the mirror - virtual

image
Image is reversed back to front
Plane Mirrors
A ray diagram is used to
determine the location of
the image in a mirror or
lens.

The image in a plane mirror

appears to be behind the
mirror.
The rays of light diverge at
the location of the image.
When the rays diverge, the
image is called a virtual
image.
Plane Mirrors
Notice the distance of
the object and image
from the mirror. For a
plane mirror,
do = d i

The height of the image

is another important
feature. For a plane
mirror,
ho = h i
The ratio of hi/ho is
called magnification.
Plane Mirrors
Plane mirrors form virtual images.

Image distance is equal to object

distance. do = di

Magnification = 1
LEFT- RIGHT REVERSAL
Spherical Mirrors

Spherical mirrors are reflecting surfaces

with spherical geometry.

For reflections on the inside surface, the

mirror is called concave.

For reflections on the outside surface,

the mirror is called convex.
 Curved mirrors
What if the mirror isnt flat?
light still follows the same rules, with local
surface normal
Parabolic mirrors have exact focus
used in telescopes, backyard satellite
dishes, etc.
also forms virtual image
Spherical Mirrors Concave &
Convex

Also called Also called

DIVERGING mirror CONVERGING mirror
Concave Mirrors
Curves inward
May be real or virtual image
 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.

We also draw a line C

f
through the center of 2
the mirror and call it C 2f
the PRINCIPAL AXIS.
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?

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?
For a real object between f and the mirror, a virtual
image is formed behind the mirror. The image is
upright and larger than the object.
For a real object between C and f, a real
image is formed outside of C. The image is
inverted and larger than the object.
For a real object at C, the real image
is formed at C. The image is inverted
and the same size as the object.
For a real object close to the mirror but
outside of the center of curvature, the real
image is formed between C and f. The
image is inverted and smaller than the
object.
What is the size of the image
formed if the real object is placed
at the focal point f?

For a real object at f, no image is

formed. The reflected rays are parallel
and never converge.
Convex Mirrors
Curves outward
Reduces images
Virtual images
Use: Rear view mirrors, store
security
CAUTION! Objects are closer than they appear!
Convex mirrors

Image is behind the mirror - virtual

image
Image is much smaller than object
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
 Mirror/Lens Equation
Assume that a certain concave spherical mirror has a
focal length of 10.0 cm. Locate the image for an
object distance of 25 cm and describe the images
characteristics.
1 1 1 1 1 1

f do di 10 25 d i
di 16.67 cm

What does this tell us? First we know the image is

BETWEEN C & f. Since the image distance is
POSITIVE the image is a REAL IMAGE.
What about the size and orientation?
Real image = positive image distance
Virtual image = negative image distance
 Magnification Equation
To calculate the orientation and size of the image we
use the MAGNIFICATION EQUATION.
Here is how this works:
d i hi If we get a POSITIVE magnification,
M
d o ho the image is UPRIGHT.
If we get a NEGATIVE magnification,
the image is INVERTED
If the magnification value is GREATER
16.67
M than 1, the image is ENLARGED.
25 If the magnification value is LESS
M 0.67 x than 1, the image is REDUCED.
If the magnification value is EQUAL
to 1, the image is the SAME SIZE as
the object.
Using our previous data we see that our image was
INVERTED, and REDUCED.
Example
Assume that a certain concave spherical mirror has a focal
length of 10.0 cm. Locate the image for an object distance of
5 cm and describe the images characteristics.

1 1 1 1 1 1

f do di 10 5 d i
di -10 cm
Characteristics?
VIRTUAL (opposite side)
di Enlarged
M 2x Upright
5
Sign Conventions for Spherical
Mirrors
Lenses
Lenses focus light by refracting light to
form an image.
Biconvex lenses are convex on both
surfaces and cause rays to converge.
Biconcave lenses are concave on both
surfaces and cause light to diverge.
Lenses
Three Rays to Draw!
First ray: parallel to optical axis and
refracting through focal point.
Second ray: called the chief ray passes
from the object through the center of the
lens un-refracted.
Third ray: through the focal point and
refracting parallel to optical axis.
Lens Ray Diagram

If object is beyond the

focal point, a real
inverted image if
formed.
If the object is
between the focal
point and the lens, a
magnified virtual,
upright image is
formed
Lens Equations
Are exactly the same as mirror
equations!
Mirror Equations
The image and object distances are
related by

The magnification can be found using

Convex Lenses
Thicker in the center
than edges.
Lens that converges
(brings together) light
rays. The Magnifier
Forms real images
and virtual images
depending on position
of the object
Concave Lenses
Lenses that are
thicker at the edges
and thinner in the
center.
Diverges light rays The De-Magnifier
All images are
erect and reduced.
Combinations of Lenses
The image of the first lens becomes the
object of the second lens!

If the image of the first lens is on the opposite

side of the second lens, consider the image
of the first lens to be a virtual object for the
second lens and do becomes negative.

Magnification of the total Mtot = M1M2

Example
Consider two lenses similar to those
illustrated in fig 23.19. Suppose the
object is 20 cm in front of lens L1 which
has focal length of 15 cm. Lens L2, with
focal length of 12 cm, is 26 cm from L1.
What is the location of the final image?
Example
A concave mirror has a radius of
curvature of 30cm. If an object is
placed a)45cm b) 20 cm c) 10 cm from
the mirror, where is the image formed
and what are its characteristics?
Example
An object is placed 20cm in front of a
diverging mirror that has a focal length
of -15cm. Use a ray diagram to
determine whether the image formed is
real or virtual. Find the location of the
image using equations.
Example
An object is 30 cm in front of a biconvex
lens of focal length 20 cm. Use a ray
diagram to locate the image. Discuss
the characteristics of the image.