REFLECTION AT CURVED

SURFACES

Table of Contents
Types of curved surfaces
Reflection of light by curved mirrors
Law of reflection and curved mirrors
Ray diagrams
Concave mirrors
Convex mirrors Connections
Linear magnification Building on…
 Reflection of light at plane
Mirror formula surfaces
Sign convention
Defects of spherical mirrors Arriving at …
 Describing convex, concave
Revision Exercise and parabolic reflectors
 Defining terms used with
Specific Objectives curved mirrors
 Describing the characteristics
By the end of this topic, the learner should be of images formed by curved
able to: mirrors
a) describe concave, convex and parabolic  Determining the focal lengths
reflectors of curved mirrors
b) describe using ray diagram the principal axis,  Explaining the applications and
defects of spherical mirrors.
principal focus centre of curvature and related
terms Looking forward to….
c) locate images formed by curved mirrors by  Refraction of light
construction  Thin Lenses
d) determine experimentally the characteristics of
images formed by a concave mirror
e) define magnification
f) explain the applications of curved reflecting
surfaces.

(16 Lessons)

Content
1. Concave and convex parabolic reflectors
2. Principal axis, principal focus, centre of curvature and related terms
3. Location of Images formed by curved mirrors by construction method
(Experiment on concave mirrors required)
4. Magnification formula
5. Applications of curved reflectors
 2 Geometric Optics

REFLECTION AT CURVED
SURFACES
Curved surfaces may be obtained from hollow shapes of spheres, cones or cylinders.
When these surfaces are highly polished, they become reflectors.
Curved mirrors can be made by applying silvery paint on part of a hollow glass sphere,
cylinder or a cone
Silvering of the inner surface of glass produces a convex mirror, while a highly polished
inner surface gives a concave reflector which behaves like a concave mirror.

Types of Curved Surfaces

When the inner surface of a metal is highly
polished, then the portion of the sphere is
described as a concave reflector.
Conversely, if the outer surface is highly
polished, then the portion of the sphere is
described as a convex reflector.
Mirrors made from spheres are called spherical mirrors.
Curved mirrors whose reflecting surfaces
curve inwards are called concave mirrors,
while those with reflecting surfaces bulging
outwards are called convex mirrors.
A parabolic mirror is a special mirror cut
from a section of a cone. A concave
parabolic reflector is obtained by applying
silvery paint on the outside of the cone so
that the reflecting surface curves in as in (c)
alongside.

Definition of Terms
To define some terms used with spherical mirrors,
consider the two mirrors below.
1. The aperture of the mirror is the effective
diameter of the light reflecting area. It is the
straight line xy.
2. The pole is the centre, P, of the mirror.
3. The centre of curvature, C, is the centre of the
sphere of which the mirror is part. In the case of a
concave mirror, the centre of curvature is in front
of the mirror while in a convex mirror, it is
behind.
3
REFLECTION AT CURVED SURFACES

4. The principal axis is the line drawn through the pole of the mirror and the centre
of curvature. It is also called the main axis of the mirror.
5. The principal focus, F, for a concave mirror, is the point at which all rays
parallel and close to the principal axis converge after reflection.
For a convex mirror, this is the point at which all rays parallel and close to the
principal axis appear to diverge from after reflection by the mirror.
The principal focus of a concave mirror is a real focus, that is, reflected rays
actually pass through it, while the principal focus of a convex mirror is a virtual
focus because reflected rays only appear to pass
through it.
6. The focal plane is a plane perpendicular to the
principal axis and passes through the principal focus.
Parallel rays which are not parallel to the principal
axis would converge at a point on the focal plane, as
shown alongside.
7. The radius of curvature, r, is the radius of the
sphere of which the mirror is part. It is the distance PC
in the figures above.
8. The focal length, f, is the distance from the pole of the mirror to its principal focus.

Reflection of Light by Curved Mirrors

The effect of the concave and convex mirrors on rays can be studied using a ray box.
Rays parallel and close to the principal axis are made incident on both concave and
convex mirrors, as in (a) and (b) below.

For the concave mirror, the rays converge at a point F, the principal focus, after
reflection. For the convex mirror, the rays are reflected so that they all appear to
diverge from the principal focus F behind the mirror. If the ray box is made to
produce a beam converging at the principal focus, F, a parallel beam is obtained for
both the concave and convex mirror after reflection, as in figures (a) and (b) below.

The diagrams show that the light rays are reversible.

 4 Geometric Optics

This is a demonstration of the principal of reversibility of light, which states that

light will follow exactly the same path if its direction of travel is reversed.

Experiment To determine the centre of

curvature of a concave mirror.
Apparatus
White screen with a hole with cross-wires,
mounted concave mirror, lamp or candle, metre
rule
Procedure
• Arrange the apparatus as shown.
• Support the white screens at its centre.
• Support a concave mirror M in front of the
screen so that the object cross wire O is in
line with the pole of the mirror.
• Place a candle or lamp behind the screen to
illuminate the cross-wires.
• Adjust the mirror towards and away from S,
until a sharp image of O is seen beside O on
the screen.
• Measure the distance MI. The object cross-
wires O and image I are now practically
coincident in position. In this case, O must be
at the centre of curvature of the mirror. The
distance MI is the radius of curvature
Working out
The focal length (f) is half the radius of
r
curvaturer, that is, f = . The focal length of
2
this mirror can also be determined from this
relationship.
The no parallax method can also be used to
determine the radus of curvature.

Experiment To estimate the focal length of

a concave mirror
Apparatus
Metre rule, distant object, concave mirror, white
screen
Procedure
• Hold the mirror M so that its reflecting
surface faces an object, e.g, a window.
• Move the white screen S in front of the mirror
until an inverted sharp image of the window
frame is formed on it.
• Measure the distance from M to S.
Working out
5
REFLECTION AT CURVED SURFACES

Laws of Reflection and Curved Mirrors

Consider an incident ray QM, parallel and close to
the principal axis, as shown in figure (a).
At M, the ray is reflected through F. A line drawn
from C through the point of incident M is normal to
the surface of the mirror.
From geometry, it follows that;
∠QMC = ∠MCF (alternate angles).
It was mentioned earlier that PC = 2PF
Therefore, PF = FC
When M is very close to P, then;
PF = MF
Therefore, ∠MCF = ∠CMF
Since ∠QMC = ∠MCF, it follows that;
∠QMC = ∠CMF
But ∠QMC is the angle of incidence, i, and ∠CMF
the angle of reflection, r.
Therefore, i = r.
It follows from this relationship that reflection by curved mirrors obeys the laws of
reflection. This can also be proved for the convex mirror.

Ray Diagrams
Ray diagrams can be used to explain how images are
formed by curved mirrors and the characteristics of these
images. The reflecting surface is represented by a
straight line and a small curve is used to show the type
of mirror.
The object is represented by a straight line perpendicular to
the principal axis, with an arrow to show its tip, as in the
figure alongside for (a) [concave mirror] and (b) [convex
mirror] .
The pole of the mirror is taken as the intersection of
principal axis and the mirror line.

Among the many rays which could be drawn in constructing a ray diagram, four special
ones are considered. These are:
 6 Geometric Optics

(i) A ray through C (a) or appearing to pass through C (b)

This ray is reflected along the same path

(ii) A ray close and parallel to the Principal Axis.

In case of a concave mirror, this ray is reflected through the principal focus, while
for a convex mirror, the ray is reflected in such a way that it appears to emerge
from the principal focus (b).

(iii) A ray through Principal Focus of Concave Mirror or appearing to be

directed to Principal Focus of Convex Mirror
This ray is reflected parallel to principal axis, as in (a) and (b) below.

(iv) A ray at an angle to the Principal Axis and incident to the Pole
This ray is reflected in such a way that the angle of incidence, i, equals angle of
reflection, r, as in (a) and (b) below.
 7
REFLECTION AT CURVED SURFACES

Image Formation and Characteristics

Concave Mirrors
The nature, size and position of the image of an object formed by a concave mirror
depends on the position of the object from the mirror.

Experiment To locate the image formed by a

concave mirror
Apparatus
Concave mirror on a holder, screen S, object slit, lamp or
candle.
The object in this experiment is a slit on a card ‘O’, in form
of an arrow.
Procedure
• Position the card and place a lamp or a candle behind
the slit.
• Support the concave mirror M in front of the object so
that the distance OM is greater than the radius of
curvature of the mirror.
• Move the white screen S between the object and the
mirror until a sharp image is formed on it. Compare the
size and appearance of the image with that of the
object.
• Repeat the experiment with the object at different
positions towards the mirror, until it is very close to it. If
no image is formed on S, try to locate it behind O.
Observation
• When the object is far away from the mirror, the image
is real, inverted and smaller than the object.
• When the object is moved nearer to the mirror, but still
further than F, the image remains inverted, real and
becomes bigger.
• When the object is at the centre of curvature of the
mirror, the image is inverted, real and same size as the
object.
• When the object is between center of curvature and
The following ray diagrams illustrate the observations:
(a) Object at Infinity (b) Object beyond C
(d) Object between C Object between F and P Object
(c) at F
Object at C
and F
 The image formed is:
8 Geometric Optics

By convention, full lines represent real rays and objects while dotted lines
represent virtual rays and images. In a ray, an arrow is drawn to show the direction
in which the light is travelling.
A real image:
• Can be focused on a screen while a virtual image is formed by apparent
intersection of rays and cannot therefore be formed on a screen;
• Is formed by a convergent reflected beam while a virtual image is formed by a
divergent reflected beam.

Convex Mirrors

Whereas concave mirrors form either real or virtual

images depending on the position of the object,
images formed by convex mirrors are always
upright, smaller than the object and between P
and F.
The figure alongside shows the ray diagram for
typical image formed by a convex mirror.

Graphical Construction of Ray Diagrams

The images obtained from a curved mirror can be drawn to scale in a ray diagram. The
construction of a ray diagram is best done on a graph paper using suitable scale.
Tips
When constructing a ray diagram:
(i) Draw a horizontal straight line, say AB, to represent the principal axis.
(ii) Draw a line, say QR, at right angles to AB at pole P to represent the mirror.

Example
An object of height 10 mm is placed 50 mm in front of a concave
mirror of focal length 30 mm. By scale drawing, determine the:
(a) Position of the image.
(b) Size of the image.
(c) Nature of the image formed.
Solution
A suitable scale is 1 mm on the paper to represent 1mm of
actual length on vertical scale and 1 mm to represent 2 mm on
horizontal scale.
• Mark the principal focus 30 mm from P.
• Draw a line OO, 10 mm long, perpendicular to AB and 50 mm
from P. This represents the object.
Task
• Draw two incident rays from O′.
(i) A ray from O′ parallel to the principal axis CP, is reflected A convex mirror of
through F. focal length 9 cm

(ii) A ray from O′ through C, is reflected along the same path. A

ray from O′ through F can also be used here. These two
intersect after reflection to give a real image at I.
 9
REFLECTION AT CURVED SURFACES

produces an image on its axis 6 cm away from the mirror. If the image is 3 cm high, determine
by scale drawing:
(a) The object distancefrom the mirror.
(b) The size of the object.

Linear Magnification
The numerical comparison of the image size with object size is called magnification.
Linear or transverse magnification is magnification of one dimension.
Linear or transverse magnification, m, is given by the formula:
height of image
Magnification, m =
height of object
Consider the figure alongside in which the image
has been constructed using a ray from O
through C and another ray from O to P.
In the figure, AO is the height of the object and
BI the height of the image.
From the definition of linear magnification m;
height of image BI
m= =
height of object AO
The right-angled triangles BIP and AOP are
similar.
height of image image distance
Therefore, m = =
height of object object distance
If v is the image distance and u the object distance, then linear magnification can also
be given by:
 10 Geometric Optics

v
m=
u
Linear magnification has no units since it is a ratio of two lengths.

Example
A concave mirror of focal length 20 cm forms a
sharply focused image of a small object on a
screen placed at a distance 80 cm from the
mirror. Task
Graphically determine: A concave mirror of focal length 20 cm
(a) The position of the object. produces an upright image of
magnification 2. Graphically determine
(b) The linear magnification of the image.
the object distance.
solution
(a) The object is 26 cm from the mirror.
v 80 cm
(b) Linear magnification, m = =
u 26 cm
=3.08
Alternatively,
height of image 20 cm
m= = = 3.08
height of object 6.5 cm
Relationship between f and r
r
The relationship f = holds for spherical mirrors and
2
can be proved theoretically using geometry.
Consider a single ray AB above and parallel to the
principal axis and incident to the mirror at B. The ray
is reflected at B through F.
By geometry, CB is normal to the tangent to the
mirror at B. It therefore follows from the laws of
reflection that:
∠ABC = ∠CBF
But ∠ABC = ∠BCF (alternate angles)
Therefore, ∠CBF = ∠BCF
Therefore, BF = FC.
When B is close to P, that is, AB is incident to the mirror and very close to P, then
BF = PF.
Therefore, PF = FC. Hence, F is midway between P and C.
CP
Thus, FP =
2
But, FP = f and CP = r
r
Therefore, f =
2
 11
REFLECTION AT CURVED SURFACES

The Mirror Formula

If an object is at a distance u from a curved mirror of focal length f, its image is formed
at a distance v from the mirror. The relationship between u, v and f can be determined
experimentally.

Experiment To investigate the relationship

between u, v and f for a concave mirror
Apparatus
Two optical pins, ruler, mounted concave mirror.
Procedure
• Place an object pin at a distance u = 15 cm in
front of the concave mirror,
• With the eye positioned as shown, locate the
position of the image with a search pin using
the ‘no parallax’ method.
• Record the image distance v in a table like the
one below.
• Repeat the experiment with object pin at u =
17, 19, 21 and 23 cm.
• Complete the table and calculate the mean
1 1
value of +
u v
1 1 1
• Compare the mean value of + with , the
u v f
reciprocal of focal length of the, with mirror
used.

Observation and conclusion

It is observed that the object distance u, image distance v and the focal length f of the
1 1 1
mirror are related by the formula; = +
f u v
This is called the mirror formula and applies to all spherical mirrors.
uv
From the formula, f =
u+v

Sign Convention
In order to determine the position and nature of the image formed by a curved mirror, a
sign convention is normally used.

Real-is-Positive Sign Convention

When applying this convention:
(i) All distances are measured from the mirror as the origin.
(ii) Distances of real objects and images are considered positive (+).
(iii) Distances of virtual objects and images are considered negative (–).
 12 Geometric Optics

In the convention, a concave mirror has a real principal focus and therefore positive
focal length, while a convex mirror with a virtual principal focus has negative focal

Example 1 Example 2
An object is placed 30 cm from a concaveAn object is placed (a) 18 cm (b) 6 cm in
mirror of focal length 20 cm front of a concave mirror of focal length 12
Calculate: cm. Determine the position and nature of
the image formed in each case.
(a) The image position;
Solution
(b) The magnification.
(a) u = +18 cm; f = +12 cm
Solution
1 1 1
(a) The mirror is concave, hence; f = Using + = ;
v u f
+20 cm and u = + 30 cm
1 1 1
1 1 1 + =
from = + , v (+18) (+12)
f u v
1 1 1 1 1 1 1
= + = − =
30 20 v v 12 18 36
1 1 1 v = 36
= +
v 20 30 The image is formed 36 cm from the
mirror, v is positive, so the image is
v = +60 cm
real.
The image is 60 cm from the mirror
(b) u = +6 cm
and since v is positive, it is real.
1 1 1
v 60 Substituting in the formula; + =
(b) m= = =2 v +6 +12
u 30
1 1 1 −1
= − =
v 12 6 12
length.

Graphical Analysis of the Mirror Formula

1 1
(i) If a graph of = against = is plotted, a
u v
straight line with a negative gradient is
obtained.
1
The x-intercept or the y-intercept gives . The
f
gradient is negative, implying that the image is
inverted relative to the object.

(ii) A graph of uv against (u + v) is a straight

line passing through the origin.
The gradient gives the focal length f.
1 1 1
Since = + , multiplying through by v
f u v
gives;
 13
REFLECTION AT CURVED SURFACES

v v v
= +
f u v
v v
= +1
f u
v
=m+1
f
v
m= -1
f

(iii)A graph of m against v is a straight line with

1
gradient . The y-intercept is –1.
f

Application of Curved Mirrors

Concave Mirrors
Concave mirrors are used:
(i) As shaving mirrors
(ii) By dentists, when examining teeth.
In each case, the object is placed within the
focal length of the mirror so that a
magnified erect image is obtained.

(iii) As Reflector behind a Projector Lamp

The lamp is placed at the centre of curvature of
the concave mirror to reflect light travelling away
from the projector, hence increasing the
illumination of the slide.

(iv) In Telescopes, for Astronomical Observations

When an object such as a star is very far from the mirror (at infinity), the rays from
any point on it appears to originate from a particular point and are therefore
parallel. The image is thus formed at the focal point.

(v) Solar Concentrators

The heat and light energy from the sun can be brought to focus by a concave
mirror. This fact is employed in solar cookers, where a small oven is placed at the
focal point of a large mirror.
 14 Geometric Optics

Convex Mirrors
They are used:
(i) As driving Mirrors
(ii) In Supermarkets, so that the attendants can monitor large floor area.
This is because:
• They form an upright image, regardless of the object distance.
• They provide a wide field view, so that the overtaking traffic can be easily seen.

The only disadvantage of using a convex mirror as a driving mirror is that it forms
a diminished image, giving the impression that the vehicles behind are
farther away than they actually are. This is dangerous and the driver has to
learn to judge distances accurately when using the mirror.

Defects of Spherical Mirrors

Spherical aberration
This is a situation where rays parallel but far away (distant)
from the principal axis of a concave mirrors fails to pass
through its focal point owing to the large radius of curvature
of the mirror. The parallel beam, therefore, produces a
blurred focus.
The reflected rays intersect to form a surface called a
caustic curve, a curved shape centred about the principal
focus F.

A bright caustic curve is often seen on the surface of tea

in a cup. This is formed when light from a distance source is
reflected from the inside of the cup, which acts as a curved
mirror of large aperture.
From the principle of reversibility of light, it follows that part
of the light from a small lamp placed at the principal focus F
will be reflected as a divergent beam from the outer parts of
the mirror. Since the reflected light energy spreads out from
the mirror, it becomes weaker as the distance increases.
Due to this, spherical mirrors are used in searchlights or
headlamps of cars.
A parabolic mirror overcomes this defect of focus in a
spherical mirror. All parallel rays are brought to a single
focus at the principal focus F.
By the principle of reversibility of light, a light source placed at the principal focus of
the parabolic mirror will produce a parallel beam after reflection.
15
REFLECTION AT CURVED SURFACES

Parabolic concave mirrors are used therefore for the propagation of parallel
beams in search lights, car headlights or hand torches. Parabolic reflectors in
all these produce a beam of high intensity.
Review Exercises

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