Convex mirror, and you point a light at it horizontally

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SUMMARY

When light is directed horizontally at a convex mirror, it reflects in such a way that it appears to originate from the focal point, provided the mirror's aperture is small relative to its radius of curvature. This principle holds true in the limiting case of small mirrors. However, when using a hemispherical mirror, the larger size compared to the radius of curvature alters the reflection behavior, leading to glancing reflections that do not conform to the standard focal point rule.

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  • Understanding of convex mirror properties
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  • Basic principles of light reflection
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If you have a convex mirror, and you point a light at it horizontally, does the light always reflect through the focal point? (the point halfway on the line connecting border and the center, parallel to the light's initial path)

I remember learning this, but I think of a mirror in the shape of a semi-circle, and you point the light at the bottom, it only bounces along the edge...?
 
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Horizontal (parallel to the axis) rays will reflect from a convex mirror so that they appear to originate from the focal point.
 
Also, this is only true in the limiting case when the size of the mirror (aperture) is small compared to the radius of curvature. So, when you take a semi-circular (actually hemispherical) mirror, it is no longer small compared to R. So, the behavior will be different, and hence glancing is not a violation. It's just outside the domain that the above rule applies to.
 

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