Ray Diagram and Image Formation by Plane Mirror

A plane mirror makes an image of objects in front of the mirror; the image
appears to be behind the plane in which the mirror lies. An image is formed by reflection
when two or more reflected rays of a point meet at a single point. The image is formed at
the point of intersection of the reflected rays.

Image Formation by Plane

Mirror
Behind the
Location
mirror
Orientation Upright
Same size as the
Size
object
Type Virtual

Image Formation by Plane Mirror

Images Formed by Curved Mirrors
In locating the image formed in curved mirror graphically, six important
points are considered. The following important points are enumerated below.
Center of Curvature, – the center of the sphere whose surface forms the
curved mirror
Focal Point, – where the light rays meet
Vertex, – the point where the principal axis meets the mirror
Principal Axis – the straight line passing through the center of curvature to the
mirror
Focal Length, – the distance from the focal point to the vertex
Radius of Curvature, – the distance from the vertex to the center of the curvature
Since the focal point is the midpoint of the line segment adjoining the vertex and
the center of curvature, the focal length would be one-half the radius of curvature
Location, Orientation, Size, and Type of Image Formed in Concave Mirror

Image
Sized
Orientation (same, Type
Location of Object
Location (upright or reduced (real or
Inverted) or virtual)
enlarged)
A. Beyond Center of
Curvature
Between
Inverted Reduced Real
C and F
B. At the Center of
Curvature

At C Inverted Same Real

D. At the Focus

No Image Formed
Location, Orientation, Size, and Type of Image Formed in Convex Mirror

Image
Sized
Orientation Type
Location of Object (same,
Location (upright or (real or
reduced or
Inverted) virtual)
enlarged)
A. Anywhere you put the object
in front of a convex mirror.
Anywhere you
put the object
Upright Reduced Virtual
in front of a
convex mirror.

Difference Between Convex and Concave Lens

BASIS FOR
CONVEX LENS CONCAVE LENS
COMPARISON
Meaning Convex lens refers to the Concave lens can be
lens which merges the light identified as the lens which
rays at a particular point, disperses the light rays
that travels through it. around, that hits the lenses.
Figure

Curve Outward Inward

Light Converges Diverges
Center and Thicker at the center, as Thinner at the center as
Edges compared to its edges. compared to its edges.
Focal Length Positive Negative
Image Real and Inverted image. Virtual, erect and diminished
Also produces virtual, erect image.
and enlarged image in a
magnifying glass.
Objects Appear closer and larger Appear smaller and farther.
Used to Correct hyperopia Correct myopia.

Enrichment Activity 1 “Multiple Reflection”

A mirror reflects everything in front of it including another mirror. If you place

two mirrors at an angle, you increase the number of reflected images you can see.
Depending on the angle you choose, you can see a number of unbroken reflections and
one or more composite or partial reflections. What would you think would happen if an
object was reflected by plane mirrors three times? Four times? Five times?

What you need:

 Science notebook or answer sheet
 A pencil or some other object, such as a pen, one peso coin or paper clip
  2 plane mirrors
 Paper
 Protractor

What you have to do:

1. Take two plane mirrors and place them together with the shiny sides facing one
another. Tape them along the side to form a hinged door.

2. Take a piece of paper or cardboard. Using a protractor, measure and mark angles
(by drawing a line) of 180°, 120°, 90°, 60°, 45°
3. Place the hinged mirrors at each of these angles and put an object (it could be a
coin, a pencil, an eraser, or some other item you may have at your desk) between them
as close to the mirrors as possible.
4. Count the number of images you see and record your observations in the
observation table.
5. When you are finished, answer the following questions in your worksheet.

Assessment 1
Direction: Use a separate sheet for your answers.
1. Observation Table
Angle (degrees) Number of Images
1800
1200
900
600
450

2. What happened to the number of images you saw as you changed the angle from
600 to 450 between the mirrors?
A. as angle decreased, more reflections will occur
B. as angle decreased, fewer reflections will occur

3. What happened to the number of images you saw as you changed the angle from
90° degrees to 120°?
A. as angle decreased, more reflections will occur
B. as angle decreased, fewer reflections will occur

4. Can you now make a statement about how the angles between the
mirrors determine the number of images that will be produced?
A. N = (360/angle between the mirror) -1
B. N = (360/angle between the mirror) +1

Assessment 3
Directions: Answer the following questions. Use a separate sheet.

Describe your image as you look at your face on the concave surface of the spoon.
A. erect, virtual B. inverted, real
Describe your image after you bring the spoon on arm length distance away from you using
the concave surface of the spoon.
A. appear as real image B. appear as virtual image

1. Describe your image as you look at your face on the convex surface of the spoon.
A. erect, virtual B. inverted, real

2. Describe your image after you bring the spoon on arm length distance away from
you using the convex surface of the mirror.
A. appear as real B. appear as virtual

Assessment 4 “The L-O-S-T Art of Image Description in Spherical Mirrors”

The following figures below show the ray diagrams for the formation of image by
a concave and convex mirror for various positions of the object. Use a Table below to
summarize the characteristics and location of the images formed. Use a separate sheet
for your answers.

Image
Sized
Orientation (same, Type
Location of Object
Location (upright or reduced (real or
Inverted) or virtual)
enlarged)
CONCAVE
a. Between the Center of
Curvature and Focus

b. Between Focal Point and

Mirror

CONVEX
a. Between F and V in front
of the Mirror

A. Below are the qualitative characteristics of images. Determine whether it is REAL

or VIRTUAL type of images:
1. is upright.
2. is inverted.
3. is behind the mirror.
4. is formed by convex mirror.
 5. can be projected onto a screen.
6. is inverted with the respect to the object.
7. is on the same side of the mirror as object.
8. rays of light do not actually pass through the image.
9. can be larger, smaller, or the same size as the object.
10.. rays of light actually converge and pass through the image.
B. Identify whether the following is PLANE, CONCAVE or a CONVEX MIRROR
1. forms images that are either behind the mirror or on the
same side as the object.
2. forms images that are always the same distance from the
mirror as the object.
3. forms images that are either smaller/same size/larger than
the object.
4. forms images that are the same size as the object only.
5. forms images that have left to right reversal.
6. forms images that are either real or virtual.
7. forms images that are upright or inverted.
8. forms images that are behind the mirror.
9. forms images that are always reduced.
10. forms images that are always upright.
11. forms images that are only virtual. 12 .
forms real or virtual images.
13. . forms only virtual images.
14. is flat, smooth mirror.
15. is a curved mirror.
C. Identify whether the following is CONCAVE or a CONVEX LENS
1. In the , the curve faces inward.
2. In the , the curve faces outward.
3. is a diverging lens that spreads out the light.
4. is thicker at the center, as compared to its edges.
5. is thinner at the center, as compared to its edges.
6. is use for correction of nearsightedness or myopia.
7. is use for correction of farsightedness or hyperopia.
8. is a converging lens which converges the refracted rays.
9. is called negative lens because of its negative focal length
nature.
10. is called positive lens because of its positive focal length
nature.
Think whether the given objects below act as a CONCAVE or CONVEX.
Number Object Types of Mirror
1 Vehicle side view mirror
2 Water glass surface
3 Head light of motorcycle
4 Tube lights
5 Inner surface of glasses
6 Lunch plates
7 Calling bell
8 Surface of pens
9 Globe
10 Surface of steel flask
 Since the focal point is the midpoint of the line segment adjoining the vertex
and the center of curvature, the focal length would be one-half the radius of
curvature