Facts about Mirrors and Lenses: What You Need to Know for Your Final

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SUMMARY

This discussion clarifies key concepts regarding mirrors and lenses, specifically focusing on the properties of convex and concave mirrors. Convex mirrors have a negative focal length, while concave mirrors possess a positive focal length. The image distance is negative for virtual images and positive for real images, with magnification indicating whether an image is upright or inverted. Additionally, the distinction between spherical and parabolic mirrors is emphasized, noting that most school lab experiments utilize spherical mirrors due to their cost-effectiveness and ease of manufacturing.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of mirror types: convex and concave
  • Familiarity with focal length concepts
  • Knowledge of image distance and its implications
  • Basic principles of magnification in optics
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the properties of parabolic mirrors and their applications
  • Learn about ray diagrams for different types of mirrors
  • Explore the mathematical relationships in optics, such as the mirror equation
  • Investigate practical experiments involving spherical mirrors in a lab setting
USEFUL FOR

Students preparing for physics exams, educators teaching optics, and anyone interested in the practical applications of mirror and lens properties.

DODGEVIPER13
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Homework Statement


I am studying for my final and just want some clarification on mirror facts.


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


Convex: focal length = negative and concave is opposite positive
Diverginging = - image dist converging just the opposite or positive
if an image is on the same side then the image distance is negative. If it is on the opposite side then positive
spherical has a negative focal length
if an image dist is neg then the image is virtual and upright
if image dist is pos then image is real and inverted
also magnification can tell me if the image is upright or inverted is it is pos then upright otherwise inverted. If magnification is positive the image distance is negative. I know ray diagrams help a lot but I need facts. Is there more that I am missing?
 
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Can someone tell me if I am on the right track
 
I'd be cautious about stating a spherical mirror has a negative focal length. Most of the mirrors used in school lab experiments are termed spherical mirrors, being pieces of a sphere. They can be silver coated on the "inside" or the "outside" to make concave or convex mirrors, and are cheaper to manufacture than a parabolic mirror.

I can see that you are thinking of a complete mirrored sphere, but "we" aren't necessarily thinking of a complete sphere when speaking of a spherical mirror.
 

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