What is a plane mirror?
A plane mirror is a flat reflective surface that does not have a curved shape.
What is a concave mirror?
A concave mirror has a reflective surface that is curved inward in the middle of the mirror.
What is a convex mirror?
A convex mirror has a reflective surface that is curved outward in the middle of the mirror.
What is the focal point of a mirror?
The focal point of a mirror is the location in space where parallel light rays traveling towards the mirror will meet after reflection.
What is the radius of curvature of a mirror?
The radius of curvature of a mirror is the radius of the sphere from which the mirror was cut from. The radius is equal to two times the focal point of the mirror.
What is a real image?
A real image is an image formed from light rays that strike a mirror in which the light rays converge and pass through the image.
What is a virtual image?
A virtual image is an image formed from light rays that strike a mirror in which the light rays diverge and do not pass through the image.
What is an enlarged image?
An enlarged image is an image that is formed by an object and the enlarged image is larger than the original object.
What is a reduced image?
A reduced image is an image that is formed by an object and the reduced image is smaller than the original object.
What is an upright image?
An upright image is an image formed by an object when the top of the object coincides with the top of the image.
What is an inverted image?
An inverted image is an image formed by an object when the top of the object coincides with the bottom of the image.
What are principal light rays?
Principal light rays are three rays that are used to visually locate and size the image formed by a mirror.
What is an incident light ray?
An incident light ray is either emitted from or reflected off an object and reaches a mirror.
What is a reflected light ray?
A reflected light ray is a light ray “thrown back” from a reflective surface, such as a mirror.
What is the Law of Reflection?
The Law of Reflection states that when light strikes a reflective surface the angle of reflection is equal to the angle of incident.
What is an optical axis?
An optical axis is an imaginary line the defines the path of light rays and goes through the center of the mirror.
What is the normal with respect to a mirror?
The normal is an imaginary line perpendicular to the surface of the mirror.
There are several common uses for mirrors. Mirrors are used to help see what we look like, what’s behind us, and what is around a corner. Can you determine the best mirror for a specific application? Get started now.
