Convex Mirror Ray Diagram - definition, rules, diagram...

Introduction

In Convex Mirror Ray Diagram Qsolution's post, you are going to learn

• About the ray convex mirror
• Rules for constructing ray diagram
• Ray diagram of convex mirror
• Summary in table

Convex Mirror

Convex mirror is a spherical Curved mirror in which reflection takes place in the outer surface of the sphere of which the mirror is a part. Convex mirror has bulged outside at middle on the reflecting surface. It has Painted on inner surface as shown in figure below:-

Convex mirror diverges the incomming rays of light when they strike the reflecting surface of the mirror. Hence, it has also known as the diverging mirror. Generally, image formed by convex mirror is virtual, errect and diminished in size.

Convex Mirror Ray Diagram

Ray diagram is a tool that has used to determine the size, location, orientation and types of image formed by the mirror. Before drawing the ray diagram you need to learn rules for constructing ray diagram which has listed below:-

• When a ray of light is coming parallel to the principle axis, it converses at the focus or appears to diversge through the focus after reflection.
• When a ray of light is coming through the focus or towards the focus, it passes parallel to the principle axis after reflection.
• When a ray of light is coming through the centre of curvature or towards the centre of curvature, it passes through same way after reflection.
• When a ray of light is incidence on pole of mirror, it reflects under the laws of reflection applied.

While drawing the ray diagram of convex mirror you will find two cases which are listed below:-

1)Ray diagram of convex mirror when object is at infinity.

When an object has placed at inifinity, a virtual image has formed at the focus behind the mirror. For example, suppose an object AB has placed far away from the mirror almost at infinity. Then a virtual image A'B' has formed behind the mirror as shown in figure below:-

Since incident rays of light comming from an object AB is parallel to the principle axis of convex mirror. Then, they appear to meet at focus forming a virtual image behind the mirror. Image formed by convex mirror when an object is at inifinity has following characteristics:-

• Virtual image has formed
• Highly diminished image has formed
• Image has formed at the focus behind the mirror
• Erect has formed

2)Ray diagram of convex mirror when object is between infinity and pole.

When an object has placed between the inifinity and the pole infornt of the convex mirror, a virtual image has formed between the pole and the focus behind the mirror. For example suppose an object AB has placed infornt of the convex mirror at any position between the inifinity and the pole. Then, a virtual image A'B' has formed between the pole and the focus behind the mirror as shown in figure below:-

A ray of light come parallel to principle axis from the object AB, it appears to pass through the focus. Another ray of light is inicident on pole, it reflects under the law of reflection. Both rays of light appear to meet at point B' forming a virtual image A'B' behind the mirror. Image formed by the convex mirror when object is between the infinity and the pole has following characteristics:-

• Virtual image has formed
• Image has formed between the pole and the focus behind the mirror
• Diminished image has formed
• Erect image has formed

Summary in Table

Object Position	Image Position	Image Size	Image Nature
At infinity	At focus behind the mirror	Highly Diminished	Virtual and Errect
Between inifinity and pole	Between pole and Focus behind the mirror	Diminished	Virtual and Errect