Convex Mirror


Mirror is a smooth surface where specular reflection takes place. A flat mirror produces an image of equal size and shape. But other than flat mirror there are
  1. Concave mirror
  2. Convex mirror


Convex Mirror
A convex mirror is type of curved mirror which bulges outwards, or to the source of the light. It basically diverge the light, because of this these mirrors are also called diverging mirror.


Light rays parallel to the axis of the mirror diverge in different directions. As the surface of the mirror is curved perpendicular to the surface is different on every point that's the reason of divergence. After the reflection the light rays are seems to be coming from a point. This point is called Focus. This point is an imaginary point since it's inside the mirror. The distance of the focus from the surface is half the radius of curvature of the mirror.

So bigger the radius of curvature of the mirror, smaller the effect of divergence of light.

As the focus of the mirror is virtual point the image formed in a convex mirror is always a virtual image. By virtual image it's meant that the image can't be touched or projected on a screen.



Because of divergence of light the image formed in a curved mirror is always diminished or smaller in size. But there size of the image gets bigger when the object approaches to the mirror.

Convex mirrors are widely used in automobiles as rearview mirror. They always form an upright virtual and diminished image. By reducing the size of the image in a convex mirror a wider field of view can be covered. That's why these mirrors are most suitable for this purpose. But as the image is smaller than the object it may seems like the object is further away than it actually is, thus these mirrors are printed with the warning, “Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear”



Convex mirrors are also used in blind turns and hallways. They are mounted on the ceiling to let people from either side see an image of other side. In ATMs also there is a small convex mirror attached to let the user see people behind them.



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