RAY DIAGRAMS FOR MIRRORS

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RAY DIAGRAMS FOR MIRRORS
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CONCAVE MIRRORS
All ray diagrams start with a center line and
the mirror
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Next, put in the focal point (F) and the center
of curvature (C) Note F is always closer to
the mirror C is twice as far as F
Next, put in the object as described in the
problem.
F
C
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You can get 3 types of images from a concave
mirror. The type of image is determined by the
object distance.
do gt R (note R distance from mirror to C)
IMAGE real, inverted, smaller
R gt do gt f (note f focal length)
IMAGE real, inverted, bigger
do lt f
IMAGE virtual, upright, bigger
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RAY DIAGRAM do gt R
- draw a ray through F to the mirror THEN
parallel to the center line
- draw a ray parallel to the center line to the
mirror THEN through F
- draw a ray through C to the mirror then back
through C
The point where the reflected rays intersect is
where the image will be formed
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RAY DIAGRAM R gt do gt f
- draw a ray through F to the mirror THEN
parallel to the center line
- draw a ray parallel to the center line to the
mirror THEN through F
- draw a ray in line with C to the mirror then
back through C
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RAY DIAGRAM do lt f
- draw a ray in line with F to the mirror THEN
parallel to the center line
- draw a ray parallel to the center line to the
mirror THEN through F
- draw a ray in line with C to the mirror then
back through C
Reflected rays do not meet in real space. Draw
dotted lines back from reflected rays so that
they intersect behind the mirror.
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CONVEX MIRRORS
All ray diagrams start with a center line and the
mirror
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Next, put in the focal point (F) and the center
of curvature (C) Note F C are behind
the mirror
Next, put in the object as described in the
problem.
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You can only get 1 type of image from a convex
mirror virtual, upright, smaller
- draw a ray through F to the mirror THEN
parallel to the center line
- draw a ray parallel to the center line to the
mirror THEN in line with F
- draw a ray to C to the mirror then back from C
Reflected rays do not meet in real space. Draw
dotted lines back from reflected rays so that
they intersect behind the mirror.