Curved Mirrors

Front

Spherical mirror Noun

---

[sfer-i-kuhl meer-er]

Back

Spherical mirror

---

A mirror with a reflecting surface that is shaped as if it were a section of a hollow sphere.

---

Example: A spherical mirror is a section of a hollow sphere, creating a concave mirror (curved inward) or a convex mirror (curved outward).

Front

Principal axis Noun

---

[prin-suh-puhl ak-sis]

Back

Principal axis

---

The straight line passing through the center of the mirror's surface and its center of curvature, dividing it in half.

---

Example: The principal axis is the straight, horizontal line that passes through the center of a curved mirror and is perpendicular to its surface.

Front

Radius of Curvature Noun

---

[rey-dee-uhs uhv kur-vuh-cher]

Back

Radius of Curvature

---

The distance from the geometric center of the sphere, from which the mirror is a section, to the mirror's surface.

---

Example: This diagram shows that a curved mirror is a slice of a sphere; the radius of curvature is the radius of this original sphere.

Front

Focal Point Noun

---

[foh-kuhl point]

Back

Focal Point

---

The point at which incident light rays parallel to the principal axis converge after reflecting from a curved mirror.

---

Example: This diagram shows parallel light rays hitting a concave mirror and reflecting to meet at a single spot, which is the focal point (F).

Front

Focal Length Noun

---

[foh-kuhl length]

Back

Focal Length

---

The distance along the principal axis from the center of the mirror's surface to its focal point.

---

Example: Parallel light rays from a distant object strike a concave mirror and reflect to meet at a single point, the principal focus. The distance from the mirror to this point is the focal length.

Front

Concave mirror Noun

---

[kon-keyv meer-er]

Back

Concave mirror

---

A mirror with an inwardly curving reflective surface where the edges curve toward the observer, causing light rays to converge.

---

Example: This ray diagram shows how a concave mirror reflects light from an object to form a smaller, upside-down (inverted), real image.

Front

Convex mirror Noun

---

[kon-veks meer-er]

Back

Convex mirror

---

A mirror with an outwardly curving reflective surface where the edges curve away from the observer, causing light rays to diverge.

---

Example: This diagram shows a convex mirror, which curves outward. It labels key reference points like the principal axis, focus (F), and center of curvature (2F).

Front

Real image Noun

---

[reel im-ij]

Back

Real image

---

An image formed by the actual convergence of light rays that can be projected onto a physical surface or screen.

---

Example: This diagram shows light rays from an object reflecting off a concave mirror and converging to form an inverted, real image at a specific point.

Front

Virtual image Noun

---

[vur-choo-uhl im-ij]

Back

Virtual image

---

An image formed where light rays only appear to diverge from, which cannot be projected onto a physical screen.

---

Example: Light rays from an object reflect off a convex mirror and appear to come from a point behind it, forming a smaller, upright virtual image.

Front

Inverted Adjective

---

[in-vur-tid]

Back

Inverted

---

A characteristic describing an image that is oriented upside down relative to the object from which it is formed.

---

Example: This diagram shows how a concave mirror reflects light rays from an object to form a real image that is upside-down, or inverted.