Advertisements
Advertisements
Question
Why does a driver use a convex mirror instead of a plane mirror as a rear view mirror?
Illustrate your answer with the help of a ray diagram.
Advertisements
Solution
A convex mirror diverges the incident beam and always forms a virtual, small and erect image between its pole and focus. Thus, a driver can see all the traffic approaching from behind. This fact enables the driver to use it as a rear view in vehicles to see all the traffic approaching from behind.

RELATED QUESTIONS
Define the following term in the context of spherical mirrors:- Principal axis
A small object is placed 150 mm away from a diverging lens of focal length 100 mm.
(i) Copy the figure below and draw rays to show how an image is formed by the lens.
Figure
(ii) Calculate the distance of the image from the lens by using the lens formula.
State the kind of mirror used
(a) By a dentist,
(b) As a search-light reflector.
A real and enlarged image can be obtained by using a
Size of image of an object by a mirror having a focal length of 20 cm is observed to be reduced to 1/3rd of its size. At what distance the object has been placed from the mirror? What is the nature of the image and the mirror?
The radius of curvature of a spherical mirror is 18 cm. What is the focal length of this mirror?
What is the focal length (f) of a mirror?
Define the following terms in the context of a diverging mirror:
- Principal focus
- Focal length
Draw a labelled ray diagram to illustrate your answer.
