Question

Aim: Observing the types of image and measuring the object distance and image distance from the mirror.

Materials Required: A candle, paper, concave mirror, V-stand, measuring tape.

Procedure: Place the concave mirror on V-stand, arrange a candle and a meter scale as shown in figure.

Keep the candle at different distances from the mirror along the axis and by moving the paper, find the position where you get the sharp image on paper.

What do you infer from the experiment which you did to measure the object distance and image distance?

Accepted Answer

For a concave mirror, type and size of the image formed for different object distances can be summarised as,

Position of the object Position of the image
Enlarged/ diminished
Erect/ inverted Real/ virtual

At infinity At focus Highly diminished Inverted Real

Between infinity and centre of curvature Between centre of curvature and focus Diminished Inverted Real

At centre of curvature At centre of curvature Same sized Inverted Real

Between centre of curvature and focus Between infinity and centre of curvature Enlarged Inverted Real

At focus At infinity Highly enlarged Inverted Real

Between focus and pole Behind the mirror Enlarged Erect Virtual

And for a convex mirror, type and size of the image formed for different object distances can be summarised as,

Position of the object Position of the object Enlarged/ diminished Erect/ inverted Real/ virtual

At infinity At focus (behind the mirror) Highly diminished Erect Virtual

Between infinity and mirror Between mirror and focus (behind the mirror) Diminished Erect Virtual

Important Questions on Reflection of Light at Curved Surfaces

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