Centre of curvature of a mirror and the perpendicular

AI Thread Summary
The normal line to a spherical mirror is always perpendicular to the surface at the point of incidence, which means it passes through the center of curvature. When light rays travel through the center of curvature, they reflect back along the same path since the angle of incidence is zero. This principle holds true for spherical mirrors, confirming that the normal indeed intersects the center of curvature. Therefore, the relationship between the normal and the center of curvature is consistent in spherical mirrors. Understanding this concept is crucial for analyzing light behavior in optics.
shihab-kol
Messages
119
Reaction score
8
If the normal is always 90 to the mirror can we assume that it always passes through centre of curvature?
The light rays passing through the centre are reflected back in the same direction as angle of incidence is 0
and incident angle is 90
so, the normal should pass through the centre.
 
Science news on Phys.org
If the mirror is spherical it will pass through centre
 
Thread 'A quartet of epi-illumination methods'

Thread 'A quartet of epi-illumination methods'

Well, it took almost 20 years (!!!), but I finally obtained a set of epi-phase microscope objectives (Zeiss). The principles of epi-phase contrast is nearly identical to transillumination phase contrast, but the phase ring is a 1/8 wave retarder rather than a 1/4 wave retarder (because with epi-illumination, the light passes through the ring twice). This method was popular only for a very short period of time before epi-DIC (differential interference contrast) became widely available. So...
View full post »

Thread 'Energy of Electromagnetic Waves in Destructive Interference'

Hello ! As we know by definition that: "Constructive interference occurs when the phase difference between the waves is an even multiple of π (180°), whereas destructive interference occurs when the difference is an odd multiple of π." But my question is in the case of destructive interference, what happens to the energy carried by the two electromagnetic waves that annihilate, the energy carried by the electromagnetic waves also disappears, or is transformed into some other type of...
View full post »

Thread 'Effective absorption coefficient of gold nanoparticles'

I am currently undertaking a research internship where I am modelling the heating of silicon wafers with a 515 nm femtosecond laser. In order to increase the absorption of the laser into the oxide layer on top of the wafer it was suggested we use gold nanoparticles. I was tasked with modelling the optical properties of a 5nm gold nanoparticle, in particular the absorption cross section, using COMSOL Multiphysics. My model seems to be getting correct values for the absorption coefficient and...
View full post »

Similar threads

Optics to act as a mirror or transparent medium depending on incident angle
Replies
12
Views
9K
I Applications of Virtual objects
Replies
9
Views
3K
Mirror system in geometrical optics
Replies
9
Views
2K
I Mirror rotates any polarisation by 90°?
Replies
6
Views
3K
I How Can I Build an Effective DIY Helmet-Mounted HUD?
Replies
19
Views
3K
Understanding Reflection of Light on a Concave Mirror
4
Replies
172
Views
19K
The tangent and perpendicular of a mirror
Replies
1
Views
1K
Optics question: Looking at mirrors from parallel to the surface
Replies
6
Views
2K
Concave mirror: Reflected rays do not meet at one point
Replies
12
Views
3K
Ray Optics Doubt: Can an Equilateral Triangle Form?
Replies
11
Views
2K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top