Chapter 34B - Reflection

and Mirrors II (Analytical)

Objectives: After completing this
lecture, you should be able to:
• Define and illustrate the following terms: real
and virtual images, converging and diverging
mirrors, focal length, and magnification.
• Understand and apply the sign conventions
that apply to focal lengths, image distances,
image heights, and magnification.
• Predict mathematically the nature, size, and
location of images formed by spherical mirrors.
• Determine mathematically the magnification
and/or the focal length of spherical mirrors.
 Analytical Optics
In
In this
this unit,
unit, we
we will
will discuss
discuss analytical
analytical relationships
relationships
to
to describe
describe mirror
mirror images
images more
more accurately.
accurately. But
But
first
first we
we will
will review
review some
some graphical
graphical principles
principles
covered
covered in in Module
Module 34a34a on
on light
light reflection.
reflection.
 The Plane Mirror
Object Image
Object Image
distance = distance

p=q
p q Image is virtual

Object distance: The straight-line distance p

from the surface of a mirror to the object.
Image distance: The straight-line distance q
from the surface of a mirror to the image.
 Spherical Mirrors
A spherical mirror is
Concave Mirror
formed by the inside
(concave) or outside
(convex) surfaces of R Axis
V
a sphere.
C
A concave spherical Linear
mirror is shown here aperture
with parts identified.
Center of Curvature C
The axis and linear Radius of Curvature R
aperture are shown. Vertex V
 The Focal Length f of a Mirror
Incident parallel ray Since qi = qr, we
qi find that F is mid-
R qr way between V
C F V and C; we find:
axis f The focal
Focal point length f is:
R
The focal length, f f 
2

The
The focal length ff isis equal
focal length equal to
to half
half the
the radius
radius RR
Converging and Diverging Mirrors
Concave mirrors and Convex mirrors and
converging parallel rays diverging parallel rays
will be called converging will be called diverging
mirrors. mirrors.
Converging Mirror
Diverging
Mirror
F
C
C F
Concave Convex
 Definitions
Focal length: The straight-line distance f from
the surface of a mirror to focus of the mirror.
Magnification: The ratio of the size of the
image to the size of the object.
Real image: An image formed by real light
rays that can be projected on a screen.
Virtual image: An image that appears to be at
a location where no light rays reach.
Converging and diverging mirrors: Refer to the
reflection of parallel rays from surface of mirror.
Image Construction Summary:
Ray 1: A ray parallel to mirror axis passes
through the focal point of a concave mirror
or appears to come from the focal point of a
convex mirror.
Ray 2: A ray passing through the focus of a
concave mirror or proceeding toward the
focus of a convex mirror is reflected parallel
to the mirror axis.
Ray 3: A ray that proceeds along a radius is
always reflected back along its original path.
Examples of Image Construction
The three principal rays for both converging
(concave) and diverging (convex) mirrors.

Ray 1 Ray 3 Ray 1

Ray 2
Ray 2
C F C F
Image
Ray 3
Converging Diverging
mirror mirror
 Review of Imaging Facts
For plane mirrors, the object distance equals
the image distance and all images are erect and
virtual.
For converging mirrors and diverging mirrors,
the focal length is equal to one-half the radius.
All images formed from convex mirrors are
erect, virtual, and diminished in size.
Except for objects located inside the focus
(which are erect and virtual), all images formed
by converging mirrors are real and inverted.
 Questions About Images
1. Is the image erect or inverted?
2. Is the image real or virtual?
3. Is it enlarged, diminished, or the same size?
4. What are object and image distances p and q?

5. What is the height y’ or size of image?

6. What is the magnification M = y’/y of image?
 Definition of Symbols
By applying algebra and geometry to ray-tracing
diagrams, such as the one below, one can derive a
relationship for predicting the location of images.

Object dist. p p
Image dist. q R
y
Focal length f
Radius R Y’
f
Object size y R
f  q
Image size y’ 2
 Mirror Equation
The
The following
following equations
equations are
are given
given without
without
derivation.
derivation. They
They apply
apply equally
equally well
well for
for both
both
converging
converging and
and diverging
diverging mirrors.
mirrors.

p
1 1 1
 
R p q f
y
Y’ f R
f 
q 2
 Sign Convention
1. Object distance p is positive for
real objects and negative for
virtual objects.
2. Image distance q is positive 1 1 1
for real images and negative  
for virtual images. p q f
3. The focal length f and the radius of curvature
R is positive for converging mirrors and
negative for diverging mirrors.
Example 1. A 6 cm pencil is placed 50 cm from
the vertex of a 40-cm diameter mirror. What
are the location and nature of the image?
p Sketch the rough image.

f p = 50 cm; R = 40 cm
C F R 40 cm
q f   ; f  20 cm
2 2

1 1 1 1 1 1
   
p q f 50 cm q 20 cm
 Example 1 (Cont.). What are the location and
nature of the image? (p = 50 cm; f = 20 cm)
1 1 1
p  
50 cm q 20 cm
f 1 1 1
 
C q 20 cm 50 cm
F
q qq == +33.3
+33.3 cm
cm

The
The image
image isis real
real (+q),
(+q), inverted,
inverted, diminished,
diminished, and
and
located
located 33.3
33.3 cm cm from
from mirror
mirror (between
(between FF and
and C).
C).
 Working With Reciprocals:
The mirror equation can easily 1 1 1
be solved by using the reciprocal  
button (1/x) on most calculators: p q f

Possible sequence for finding f on linear calculators:

Finding f: P 1/x + q 1/x = 1/x

Same with reverse notation calculators might be:

Finding f: P 1/x Enter q 1/x + 1/x

 Alternative Solutions
It might be useful to solve the mirror equation
algebraically for each of the parameters:

1 1 1
 
p q f

qf pf qp
p q f 
q f p f q p

Be
Be careful
careful with
with substitution
substitution of
of signed
signed numbers!
numbers!
Example 2: An arrow is placed 30 cm from the
surface of a polished sphere of radius 80 cm.
What is the location and nature of image?
Draw image sketch:

p = 30 cm; R = -80 cm
R -80 cm
f   ; f  40 cm
2 2

Solve the mirror equation pf

for q, then watch signs q
carefully on substitution: p f
Example 2 (Cont.) Find location and nature
of image when p = 30 cm and q = -40 cm.

(30 cm)(-40 cm)

q
30 cm - (-40 cm)

q = -17.1 cm

The
The image
image isis virtual
virtual (-q),
(-q), erect,
erect, and
and
diminished.
diminished. ItIt appears
appears toto be
be located
located at
at aa
distance
distance of
of 17.1
17.1 cm
cm behind
behind the
the mirror.
mirror.
 Magnification of Images
The magnification M of an image is the ratio
of the image size y’ to the object size y.

Magnification: Obj. Img. Obj. Img.

y ' q y y’ y y’
M 
y p M = +2 M = -1/2

y and y’ are positive when erect; negative inverted.

q is positive when real; negative when virtual.
M is positive when image erect; negative inverted.
 Example 3. An 8-cm wrench is placed 10 cm
from a diverging mirror of f = -20 cm. What
is the location and size of the image?
pf (10 cm)(-20 cm) Virtual
q 
p  f 10 cm - (-20 cm) image
Y
qq == -- 6.67 Y’
6.67 cm
cm Virtual !
p q F C
 q (6.67 cm) Converging
M  Wrench mirror
p 10 cm

Magnification: Since M = y’/y

y’ = +5.34 cm
M = +0.667 y’ = My or:
 Example 4. How close must a girl’s face be to
a converging mirror of focal length 25 cm, in
order that she sees an erect image that is
twice as large? (M = +2)
q
M  2  ; q  2 p
p
pf
Also, q 
p f
pf
Thus,  2 p f = -2(p - f) = -2p + 2f
p f
f 25 cm
f = -2p + 2f p  pp == 12.5
12.5 cm
cm
2 2
 Summary
The
The following
following equations
equations apply
apply equally
equally well
well for
for
both
both converging
converging and
and diverging
diverging mirrors.
mirrors.

p
1 1 1
 
R p q f
y
Y’ f R
f 
q 2
 Summary: Sign Convention
1. Object distance p is positive for real
objects and negative for virtual objects.
2. Image distance q is positive for real
images and negative for virtual
images. 1 1 1
3. The focal length f and the radius of  
curvature R is positive for converging p q f
mirrors and negative for diverging
mirrors.
4. The image size y’ and the magnification M of
images is positive for erect images and negative
for inverted images.
 Summary: Magnification
The magnification M of an image is the ratio
of the image size y’ to the object size y.

Magnification: Obj. Img. Obj. Img.

y ' q y y’ y y’
M 
y p M = +2 M = -1/2

y and y’ are positive when erect; negative inverted.

q is positive when real; negative when virtual.
M is positive when image erect; negative inverted.