Why doesn't my convex mirror reflection match the expected focal point?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the behavior of light rays reflecting off a convex mirror, specifically addressing the relationship between incident rays and the focal point. The original poster is grappling with discrepancies between their graphical model and expected outcomes regarding the reflection of rays.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to model the reflection of rays in a convex mirror and questions why the reflected rays do not converge at the expected focal point. Other participants explore the nature of par axial rays and whether the principle regarding reflection holds true in all cases.

Discussion Status

The discussion is exploring the nuances of ray behavior in convex mirrors, with some participants suggesting that the principle may be an approximation rather than an absolute rule. There is an acknowledgment of the complexity involved in accurately predicting the behavior of reflected rays.

Contextual Notes

The original poster mentions having checked for rounding errors and other obvious mistakes in their model, indicating a thorough approach to understanding the problem. The discussion hints at the need for clarity regarding the definitions and assumptions related to ray behavior in optics.

entropymill
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Homework Statement



For self study, I've been trying to understand my convex mirror.
Some online instruction I've been following states that if an incidence ray (red line in my model, below) parallel to the principal axis (black line) hits a convex mirror (full curvature outlined in black, centre C), the reflected ray (purple) extended back passes through the focal point (F).

Homework Equations


In my graphed model below, the points & vectors are
centre of curvature, C is at origin
focal point, F = (25,0)
normal to incident, N = (0.91128...,-0.41178...)
incident, I = (-1,0)
reflected, R = (0.66087...,-0.75049...)

The Attempt at a Solution



wtf.png


I graphed my model (above) but the reflected vector does not run exactly through my focal point as expected. I've checked this is not simply a rounding error (or any other obvious mistakes). There are also other problems when I plot more incident vectors emanating from the same point (not shown): the reflected vectors do not converge on a virtual image point as expected. Something crucial is missing from my understanding of this problem.
 
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In the concave mirror, the reflected ray will pass through F if the ray is parallel to the principle and close to the principle axis. Such rays are called par axial rays.
 
Are you just saying the principle is an approximation. I.e. in fact it never passes exactly through F at all (except of course when the incident ray is along the principal axis), but the reflected ray gets very close to F when the incident is close to the principal axis
 
Yes.
 

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