Convex Mirrors magnification help

M = -v/u, it can never equal 1.In summary, the magnification of a single convex mirror is always positive and cannot be equal to 1, as it is determined by the formula 1/u + 1/v = 1/f and M = -v/u. This can be confirmed by drawing ray diagrams or deriving the magnification relation.
  • #1
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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  • #2
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
 
  • #3
Can m for a convex mirror ever be equal to 1 aside from being greater than 1?
 
  • #4
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
 

1. What is a convex mirror?

A convex mirror is a type of curved mirror that bulges outward. It is also known as a diverging mirror because it causes incident light rays to spread out or diverge.

2. How does a convex mirror magnify objects?

Convex mirrors do not actually magnify objects. Instead, they produce virtual images that appear smaller than the actual object. The virtual image is formed by tracing the reflected rays back to a point behind the mirror.

3. What is the formula for calculating magnification in a convex mirror?

The formula for magnification in a convex mirror is M = -i/o, where M is the magnification, i is the image distance (distance from the mirror to the virtual image), and o is the object distance (distance from the mirror to the object).

4. Can a convex mirror create real images?

No, convex mirrors can only create virtual images. Real images are formed when the reflected rays actually converge to a point, which is not possible with convex mirrors.

5. How does the size of the object affect the magnification in a convex mirror?

The size of the object does not affect the magnification in a convex mirror. The magnification is solely dependent on the distance of the object from the mirror and the curvature of the mirror.

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