Convex Mirrors magnification help

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the properties of magnification in convex mirrors, particularly focusing on whether the size of the magnification is influenced by the object distance. Participants explore the implications of the mirror's focal length and the nature of the magnification being positive.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants suggest drawing ray diagrams to visualize how the position of an object affects image size. There is also mention of deriving the magnification relation from the mirror formula, prompting questions about the conditions under which magnification can equal 1.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active with participants exploring different methods to understand magnification in convex mirrors. Some guidance has been offered regarding the use of ray diagrams and the mirror formula, while questions about the limits of magnification remain open.

Contextual Notes

There is a focus on the characteristics of convex mirrors, particularly the nature of magnification being always positive and the implications of object distance on image size. The repeated question about magnification equaling 1 indicates a point of confusion or interest that has not been resolved.

Soaring Crane
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I know that magnification of a single convex mirror is always positive (that is, greater than 0) based on f<0, but does the size of the magnification depend on the magnitude of the object distance?
 
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The simplest way to answer this question (yourself) is to draw the ray diagrams for a convex mirror putting the same (sized) object at two different positions, and see if they lead to different image sizes.

The other way to answer this question is to derive the relation for the magnification from the formula :
1/u + 1/v = 1/f. This isn't terribly hard, if you remember that the magnification, M = -v/u
 
Can m for a convex mirror ever be equal to 1 aside from being greater than 1?
 
Can m for a convex mirror ever be equal to 1 aside from being greater than 1?

nope, as you said in the original post
 

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