Question

state the characteristics of image formed by a spherical mirror

Answer 1

Images in mirrors can be either real or virtual. A summary of the properties of the concave mirrors are shown below: converging real image inverted image in front of mirror. A summary of the properties of the convex mirrors are shown below: diverging virtual image upright image behind mirror.

Answer 2

Convex Mirrors

Reflection and Image Formation for Convex Mirrors

Ray Diagrams - Convex Mirrors

Image Characteristics for Convex Mirrors

The Mirror Equation - Convex Mirrors

Previously in Lesson 4, ray diagrams were constructed in order to determine the location, size, orientation, and type of image formed by concave mirrors. The ray diagram constructed earlier for a convex mirror revealed that the image of the object was virtual, upright, reduced in size and located behind the mirror. But will these always be the characteristics of an image produced by a convex mirror? Can convex mirrors ever produce real images? Inverted images? Magnified Images? To answer these questions, we will look at three different ray diagrams for objects positioned at different locations along the principal axis. The diagrams are shown below.

located behind the convex mirror

a virtual image

an upright image

reduced in size (i.e., smaller than the object)

Unlike concave mirrors, convex mirrors always produce images that share these characteristics. The location of the object does not affect the characteristics of the image. As such, the characteristics of the images formed by convex mirrors are easily predictable.