Mirrors and lenses

Mirrors

A mirror is a smooth surface that reflects light in a uniform way.

Most mirrors we look at are plane mirrors.
The other types of mirrors are concave (converging) or a convex
(diverging) mirrors.
Virtual images are images that appear to be coming from where light
does not appear to be coming from. They cant be projected on a
screen.
Real images are formed where light converges. They can be projected
on a screen
Law of reflection
The law of reflection states that the angle that the light hits the
surface (angle of incidence) is equal to the angle that the light reflects
of the surface (angle of reflection).
The imaginary line perpendicular to the mirror is called a normal

Plane mirrors
Most mirrors we look at are plane mirrors.
The reflection is reversed left to right.
The reflection is the same size as the original.
The reflection appears to be behind the mirror
The reflection is the same distance behind the mirror as the object is in
front of it.
The image formed on the mirror is a virtual image.
 Concave mirrors (converging)

A concave mirror is curved inward like a cave.

Concave mirrors are also called converging mirrors as they cause
parallel light rays to converge.
The point the light rays would converge is called a focal point.
Concave mirrors produce both real and virtual images.
If the image is closer to the mirror, in front of the focal point, the image
is a virtual image that appears to be coming from behind the mirror.
Concave mirrors are used to magnify objects and producing bemes of
light.

Object in front of the

The image is closer to the mirror, in

front of the focal point.
The image produced is virtual, right
side up, and magnified.

Object behind the focal

The image is farther away from

mirror, behind the focal point.
The image produced is real, up-side
down, and smaller.
 Convex mirrors (Diverging)
Convex mirror
Convex mirrors curve outward like a fat belly.
They are also called diverging mirrors as they cause the light to spread
apart or diverge.
A convex mirror always creates a virtual image.
The image created by a convex mirror is smaller, right side up, and
virtual.
Convex mirrors can make a large area in a small image.
They are used in stores as security and in cars and buses as side view
mirrors.

A convex mirror forms only

virtual images that are
right-side up and smaller
than the actual object.

Lenses
Lens

A lens is an optical tool that refracts light because the light wave
changes its medium.
As the light passes it can converge and diverge.
The image produced can be a real image or a virtual image depending
on how close the object is from the lens and the shape of the lens.
 Convex lens (converging)
A convex lens is thicker at the center and thinner on the edges.
A convex lens makes parallel light rays converge at a focal point.
If the object is closer to the lens, the image produced will be virtual,
larger, and right side up.
It the object is farther away from the lens, the image produced will be
real and upside down.
Convex lenses are used to correct farsightedness.
Convex lenses are used to magnify or focus light in telescopes,
binoculars and cameras.

Real image formed by a

convex lens

Virtual image formed by a convex

lens
 Concave lenses (diverging)

A concave lens is thinner at the center and thicker at the edges.

It causes light rays to diverge.
The image form by a concave lens is always virtual, smaller and right
side up.
Concave lenses are used to correct nearsightedness.
They are used in binoculars and telescopes.

The image
formed by a
concave lens is
a virtual image.
It is also smaller
than the object
and right-side