Optics: Types of Mirrors and Mirror Equations

Mirrors

• Types of mirrors:
  • Plane mirrors: flat mirrors that produce a virtual image
  • Spherical mirrors: curved mirrors that can produce real or virtual images
  • Concave mirrors: curved inward, can produce real or virtual images
  • Convex mirrors: curved outward, produce virtual images
• Mirror equation: 1/f = 1/do + 1/di, where f is the focal length, do is the object distance, and di is the image distance
• Mirror formula: magnification = -di/do, where di is the image distance and do is the object distance

Reflection

• Types of reflection:
  • Specular reflection: mirror-like reflection, where the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection
  • Diffuse reflection: scattered reflection, where the angle of incidence does not equal the angle of reflection
• Law of reflection: the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection
• Reflection of light:
  • Regular reflection: occurs at a smooth surface
  • Irregular reflection: occurs at a rough surface

Lenses

• Types of lenses:
  • Convex lenses: thicker in the middle, converge light rays
  • Concave lenses: thinner in the middle, diverge light rays
  • Plano lenses: one flat surface and one curved surface
• Lensmaker's equation: 1/f = (n-1)(1/R1 - 1/R2), where f is the focal length, n is the refractive index, and R1 and R2 are the radii of curvature
• Lens formula: 1/do + 1/di = 1/f, where do is the object distance, di is the image distance, and f is the focal length

Refraction

• Refraction: the bending of light as it passes from one medium to another
• Snell's law: n1 sinθ1 = n2 sinθ2, where n1 and n2 are the refractive indices, and θ1 and θ2 are the angles of incidence and refraction
• Total internal reflection: occurs when light passes from a medium with a higher refractive index to a medium with a lower refractive index, and the angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle
• Refractive index: a measure of how much a medium bends light, n = c/v, where c is the speed of light in a vacuum and v is the speed of light in the medium

Total Internal Reflection

• Critical angle: the angle of incidence above which total internal reflection occurs
• Total internal reflection: occurs when light passes from a medium with a higher refractive index to a medium with a lower refractive index, and the angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle
• Applications of total internal reflection:
  • Optical fibers: use total internal reflection to transmit data as light signals
  • Prisms: use total internal reflection to bend light and separate colors
  • Mirrors: use total internal reflection to reflect light back to the source

Mirrors

• Plane mirrors produce virtual images and are flat
• Spherical mirrors can produce real or virtual images and are curved
• Concave mirrors are curved inward and can produce real or virtual images
• Convex mirrors are curved outward and produce virtual images

Mirror Equation and Formula

• Mirror equation: 1/f = 1/do + 1/di, where f is the focal length, do is the object distance, and di is the image distance
• Mirror formula: magnification = -di/do, where di is the image distance and do is the object distance

Reflection

• Specular reflection is mirror-like, where the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection
• Diffuse reflection is scattered, where the angle of incidence does not equal the angle of reflection
• Law of reflection: the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection
• Regular reflection occurs at smooth surfaces
• Irregular reflection occurs at rough surfaces

Lenses

• Convex lenses are thicker in the middle and converge light rays
• Concave lenses are thinner in the middle and diverge light rays
• Plano lenses have one flat surface and one curved surface
• Lensmaker's equation: 1/f = (n-1)(1/R1 - 1/R2), where f is the focal length, n is the refractive index, and R1 and R2 are the radii of curvature
• Lens formula: 1/do + 1/di = 1/f, where do is the object distance, di is the image distance, and f is the focal length

Refraction

• Refraction is the bending of light as it passes from one medium to another
• Snell's law: n1 sinθ1 = n2 sinθ2, where n1 and n2 are the refractive indices, and θ1 and θ2 are the angles of incidence and refraction
• Total internal reflection occurs when light passes from a medium with a higher refractive index to a medium with a lower refractive index, and the angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle
• Refractive index is a measure of how much a medium bends light, n = c/v, where c is the speed of light in a vacuum and v is the speed of light in the medium

Total Internal Reflection

• Critical angle is the angle of incidence above which total internal reflection occurs
• Applications of total internal reflection include:
  • Optical fibers: use total internal reflection to transmit data as light signals
  • Prisms: use total internal reflection to bend light and separate colors
  • Mirrors: use total internal reflection to reflect light back to the source