Calculate Image Diameter of Sun in Concave Mirror with Given θ and f

In summary: No, only one ray from each point on the sun strikes the pole of the mirror. All the other rays strike somewhere else.
  • #1
vkash
318
1
θ

Homework Statement



The sun of (diameter D) subtends an angle of θ radians at the pole of the concave mirror of focal length f. The diameter of the image of the sun formed by mirror is _____

Homework Equations



1/v+1/u=1/f

The Attempt at a Solution


confused with question. Either i am getting zero or infinity(sun is too large!)..
 
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  • #2
The sun can be taken to be at infinity so the image of the sun will be formed... where?
Light rays striking the centre of the mirror (from the top/bottom of the sun) will be reflected at same angle.
Can you get it from this?
 
  • #3
technician said:
The sun can be taken to be at infinity so the image of the sun will be formed... where?
Light rays striking the centre of the mirror (from the top/bottom of the sun) will be reflected at same angle.
Can you get it from this?

when light strike at the pole of the concave mirror they are reflected like plane mirror. So No image should form?
Am i correct?
 
  • #4
vkash said:
when light strike at the pole of the concave mirror they are reflected like plane mirror. So No image should form?
Am i correct?

No, only one ray from each point on the sun strikes the pole of the mirror. All the other rays strike somewhere else.
You do know what direction one other special ray will reflect, and every other ray from a given point on the sun will reflect through that same point - forming an image of that point.
Choosing a point on the "top" of the sun, and another on the "bottom"of the sun will enable you to locate the extent of the image of the sun.
 
  • #5
vkash said:
when light strike at the pole of the concave mirror they are reflected like plane mirror. So No image should form?
Am i correct?

btw - have you ever seen an image of the sun "reflected in the side of a sky scraper"?
That should answer your question about whether an image is formed after reflection in a plane mirror.
 

1. How does a ray of light travel?

A ray of light travels in a straight line until it encounters a change in medium or is reflected or refracted by a surface.

2. What is the difference between reflection and refraction?

Reflection is when a ray of light bounces off a surface at the same angle it hits the surface, while refraction is when a ray of light bends as it passes through a different medium.

3. How does the angle of incidence affect the angle of reflection?

According to the law of reflection, the angle of incidence and the angle of reflection are equal. This means that the angle at which a ray of light hits a surface will be the same as the angle at which it is reflected.

4. Why do objects appear different in a mirror?

Objects appear different in a mirror because the image is a reflection of the original object. This means that the left and right sides of the image are switched, giving the appearance of a mirrored image.

5. How does a lens affect the path of light?

A lens can either converge or diverge light, depending on its shape. A converging lens brings parallel rays of light together at a focal point, while a diverging lens spreads them apart.

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