ANALYSIS

1. Can a convex mirror produce real images? If yes describe how. If

no, why not?
No, convex mirror always form virtual images because light rays
parallel to principal axis are reflected from the mirror and they do
not meet. They appear to be coming from a point on the other side
but in reality they do not meet at a point.
2. Do concave mirrors produce real images only? If no, describe a case
wherein a concave mirror produces a virtual image.
No, concave mirrors produces virtual image also. When the objects
position is between the focal point and the mirror a virtual image in
upright position is form.
3. Is a virtual object possible for a single mirror system? Why or why
not?
Yes virtual object is possible for a single mirror system because as
long the reflected rays diverge from a point on the object then
anything is possible for virtual object at any mirror system.

CONCLUSION
I therefore conclude that mirrors are an optical tool which
formed images by gathering the light. There are two types of
mirror; the plane mirror having a flat reflecting surface and the
spherical mirror which has a curved reflecting surface. In the
experiment, I observed that for plane mirrors the angle of
incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.
The number of images formed is expressed by the equation
, where I is the number of image formed at a certain
angle. As the angle increases, the number of images formed
decreases. Therefore, they are inversely proportional to each other.
These reflected rays intersect at a certain point called focal
point. The focal length is the distance between the mirror and the
focal point. The focal length is equal to the one half of the radius of
the curvature of the mirror. The focal length of the mirror
determines how image will be projected or reflected by the mirror
depending on the distance from where the object is located, etc.

Physics Laboratory Part 4

GUIDE QUESTIONS
1.

In determining the number of image formed between two plane mirrors placed at an angle ,
what happens when the angle is greater than 180? What are the limitations of the angle
then?

There will be no image formed when the mirror angle is greater than
180o. The limitation of the angle image is less than 180o.
2.

What is the minimum size of the mirror for a man to see his full size from the reflection? In
the space below, show the drawing and solution for this case. Does the distance of the man
from the mirror affect this minimum size? Why?

The minimum size to see an entire image of the man is half the height
of the man. Because the angle of incidence and reflection are equal,
light from the foot reflect from the mirror at a point thats vertically
halfway between the eye and the floor.

Any size of the mirror can be used provided the distance between
the man and the mirror is fixed. The distance affects the reflection
is such a way that the longer the distance, the smaller the image
produced and vice versa. Therefore we can say that the distance
is inversely proportional to the size of the image produced.
3.

What is a virtual object? Give an example of a case wherein an object is deemed virtual.

If light rays appear to diverge from a point, then object is virtual and if
the light rays actually originate and diverge from a point, then the
object is real. A simple example is a flat mirror where the image of
oneself is perceived at twice the distance from oneself to the mirror.

Physics Laboratory Part 4