Mirrors (concave) + questions on lens and mirrors

[whitehorsey]

1. The image of the moon is formed by a concave mirror whose radius of curvature is 4.20 m at a time when the moon's distance is 3.8 x 10^5 km. What is the diameter of the image of the moon if the diameter of the moon is 3480 km?



2. 1/f = 1/d_o + 1/d_i
M = h_i/h_o = - d_i/d_o



3. 1/f = 1/d_o + 1/d_i
d_i = d_of/d_o - f
= 3.8 x 1065(0.0042)/3.8 x 10^5 - 0.0042
= 0.0042 km

h_i/h_o = - d_i/d_o
h_i= h_o (- d_i/d_o)
= 3480(-0.0042/3.8 x 10^5)
= -3.8 x 10^-5 km

I'm not sure if this is right. I also have some questions how do you know if it is concave or convex (lens/mirrors if the book doesn't say it), what's the difference between mirrors and lens, and how do you tell if its a converging lens or a diverging lens what's the difference between them. Thank You! :]

 

[Redbelly98]

4.2m is the radius of curvature, it is not the focal length. See your textbook for how f depends on R.

I also have some questions how do you know if it is concave or convex (lens/mirrors if the book doesn't say it), what's the difference between mirrors and lens,

A lens works by refraction of transmitted rays, while a mirror works by reflection.

... and how do you tell if its a converging lens or a diverging lens what's the difference between them. Thank You! :] [/b]

We know this is a concave mirror because the problem statement says so.

More generally:

A positive focal length indicates a concave mirror, and convex or converging lens.

A negative focal length indicates a convex mirror, and concave or diverging lens.

 

[whitehorsey]

4.2m is the radius of curvature, it is not the focal length. See your textbook for how f depends on R.


A lens works by refraction of transmitted rays, while a mirror works by reflection.



We know this is a concave mirror because the problem statement says so.

More generally:

A positive focal length indicates a concave mirror, and convex or converging lens.

A negative focal length indicates a convex mirror, and concave or diverging lens.

oh ok i see.
i have two more questions:
What happens if the problem says that it is a convex mirror and gives a positive focus do we change that to negative or if they give a negative focus do we change that to a positive?

What happens if your trying to solve for the focus on a concave mirror and get a positve focus do I change that to a negative or leave it as it is?

I'm kind of confused on this and I want to be able to understand it for my test tomorrow.
Thank You!

 

[Redbelly98]

oh ok i see.
i have two more questions:
What happens if the problem says that it is a convex mirror and gives a positive focus do we change that to negative or if they give a negative focus do we change that to a positive?

The focal length is negative for a convex mirror, so:

• if they give a positive focus, change that to negative
• if they give a negative focus, keep it as negative

What happens if your trying to solve for the focus on a concave mirror and get a positve focus do I change that to a negative or leave it as it is?

A concave mirror has a positive focal length, so if you get a positive focus keep it positive.
A convex mirror has a negative focus, so if you calculate a positive focus then something is wrong. Check your work.

I'm kind of confused on this and I want to be able to understand it for my test tomorrow.
Thank You!

You're welcome. Good luck!

 

[whitehorsey]

Thank You again! :]