Physics Flashcard: Reflection, Refraction, Mirrors, and Lenses

Front

What is the main difference between concave and convex mirrors?

Back

Concave mirrors curve inward, while convex mirrors curve outward.

Front

What type of mirror is commonly used in security applications to provide a wider field of view?

Back

Convex mirror.

Front

What characteristics define a real image formed by a convex lens?

Back

A real image formed by a convex lens is inverted, located on the opposite side of the lens from the object, and can be projected onto a screen.

Front

What type of image does a diverging lens produce?

Back

A diverging lens produces a virtual image that is upright and reduced in size.

Front

What type of image is formed by a concave mirror when the object is located beyond the focal point?

Back

A real, inverted, and reduced image.

Front

What is the focal point of a lens or mirror?

Back

The focal point is the point where parallel rays of light either converge (in converging lenses and concave mirrors) or appear to diverge from (in diverging lenses and convex mirrors).

Front

How does the curvature of a mirror affect the type of image formed?

Back

The curvature determines whether the mirror is concave or convex, which in turn affects whether the image is real or virtual, inverted or upright, and magnified or reduced.

Front

What is the significance of the principal axis in optics?

Back

The principal axis is an imaginary line that passes through the center of a lens or mirror and is perpendicular to its surface; it is used as a reference for measuring distances and angles in optics.

Front

What happens to light rays that strike a concave mirror parallel to the principal axis?

Back

They reflect and converge at the focal point.

Front

What is the difference between real and virtual images?

Back

Real images can be projected onto a screen and are formed by converging light rays, while virtual images cannot be projected and are formed by diverging light rays.