Curved Mirrors and Image Formation

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary characteristic of the image formed by a concave mirror?

The image is always inverted and cannot be seen.

The image is always smaller than the object.

The image size varies depending on the distance from the object. (correct)

The image is always larger than the object.

Which of the following statements correctly describes a convex mirror?

It always produces real images.

It always produces virtual images that are smaller than the object. (correct)

It can only form inverted images.

It can form both real and virtual images.

What happens to the image when you move a concave mirror closer to the object?

The image becomes larger. (correct)

The image remains the same size.

The image disappears completely.

The image gets smaller.

Which term refers to the center of the reflecting surface of a spherical mirror?

Pole Signup and view all the answers

How does the image in a convex mirror differ from that in a concave mirror?

Convex mirrors produce virtual and smaller images. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to a ray passing through the principal focus of a concave mirror after reflection?

It emerges parallel to the principal axis. Signup and view all the answers

What effect does a ray directed towards the center of curvature of a convex mirror exhibit after reflection?

It reflects back along the same path. Signup and view all the answers

When a ray is incident obliquely towards a concave mirror, what principle is followed at the point of incidence?

The angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection. Signup and view all the answers

How does an incident ray that falls on a mirror along the normal behave upon reflection?

It continues in the same direction. Signup and view all the answers

In the scenarios described, what common behavior of light rays is maintained?

Light rays follow the laws of reflection. Signup and view all the answers

What causes the emergent ray to be parallel to the incident ray when passing through a rectangular glass slab?

The bending of the ray at opposite faces is equal and opposite. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes Snell's law of refraction?

It relates the sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of the angle of refraction with a constant ratio. Signup and view all the answers

When a light ray is incident normally to the interface of two media, what can be said about the refraction?

The light ray will continue in a straight path with no bending. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the speed of light as it enters from one transparent medium to another?

The speed of light decreases as it enters a denser medium. Signup and view all the answers

In which scenario would the bending of a light ray be most significant according to the laws of refraction?

When light travels from glass into air. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to a ray of light when it travels from a rarer medium to a denser medium?

It slows down and bends towards the normal. Signup and view all the answers

Which medium among kerosene, turpentine, and water would light travel fastest in, based on their refractive indices?

Kerosene Signup and view all the answers

If the refractive index of diamond is 2.42, what does this imply about diamond's optical density compared to vacuum?

Diamond is optically denser than vacuum. Signup and view all the answers

When light passes from air to glass with a refractive index of 1.50, what is its speed in the glass?

2.0 x 10^8 m/s Signup and view all the answers

What occurs to a ray of light when it exits a denser medium and enters a rarer medium?

It speeds up and bends away from the normal. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to a light ray when it travels obliquely from a denser medium to a rarer medium?

It bends away from the normal. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement is true regarding the refractive index of a medium?

It is the ratio of the speed of light in vacuum to that in the medium. Signup and view all the answers

Where should an object be placed in front of a convex lens to obtain a real image the same size as the object?

At twice the focal length. Signup and view all the answers

What type of image is formed by a concave mirror when the object is placed between the pole of the mirror and its principal focus?

Virtual, erect, and larger than the object. Signup and view all the answers

What is the unit of power of a lens?

Dioptre Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Reflection and Curved Mirrors

Images formed in mirrors are located at the same distance behind the mirror as the object is in front of it.
Images in mirrors are laterally inverted.
Conduct an experiment using a large shining spoon to observe images in its curved surfaces, noting size changes and characteristics based on the surface orientation.
Curved mirrors can be categorized as concave (inward curved) or convex (outward curved).

Spherical Mirrors

Spherical mirrors are segments of a sphere where the reflecting surface can be curved inward (concave) or outward (convex).
Concave mirrors converge light rays towards a focal point, while convex mirrors diverge light rays.

Key Terminology

Pole: The center of the reflecting surface of a spherical mirror.
Light rays hitting the principal focus of a concave mirror emerge parallel to the principal axis post-reflection.
Light rays directed towards the center of curvature behave differently depending on the type of mirror but maintain reflection along the same path when they hit the center.

Laws of Reflection

Reflection follows the law stating that the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection.
Incident rays hitting perpendicularly to the surface reflect back along their path.

Refraction of Light

Refraction occurs when light travels between different transparent media, altering its speed upon entering a new medium.
Snell's Law: The ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of the angle of refraction remains constant for light of a specific color in given media.

Optical Density

An optically denser medium has a higher refractive index compared to a rarer medium.
Light travels faster in rarer mediums and slows down as it enters denser mediums, bending towards the normal in the process.

Practical Applications

Spherical lenses are used in spectacles and magnifying glasses, significantly helping in vision correction and magnification.
The lens formula relates object distance (u), image distance (v), and focal length (f): 1/f = 1/v + 1/u.
Power of a lens is the reciprocal of its focal length, measured in diopters.

Experimentation and Observation

Various exercises enhance understanding of image formation for both concave and convex mirrors.
Key factors such as object distance relative to the focal point determine image size and orientation.

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Description

This activity explores the properties of image formation using curved mirrors, particularly through the example of a large shining spoon. Participants will observe how the size and orientation of images change as they manipulate the spoon's position. Engaging in this hands-on activity will deepen your understanding of reflection in concave and convex surfaces.