Briefing Doc: Reflection and Plane Mirrors

This briefing document reviews the key concepts of reflection, focusing specifically on plane
mirrors, based on the provided source "Plane-Mirrors.pdf".

Reflection Basics
Definition: Reflection is the process of light rays bouncing off a surface.
Plane Mirror: Any mirror with a flat reflective surface (e.g., a standard mall
mirror).
Laws of Reflection:
First Law: The incident ray (incoming light), the reflected ray (outgoing light),
the angle of incidence (angle between incident ray and normal line), the angle of
reflection (angle between reflected ray and normal line), and the normal line
(imaginary line perpendicular to the mirror surface at the point of incidence) all
lie on the same plane.

Second Law: The angle of incidence (θi) is always equal to the angle of
reflection (θr).
Characteristics of Plane Mirror Images:
Images formed by plane mirrors exhibit the following characteristics:
Virtual: The image is upright and appears behind the mirror.
Same Size: The image is the same size as the object (height and width).
Same Orientation: The image has the same left-right orientation as the object.
Same Distance: The image appears as far behind the mirror as the object is in
front of it.
Types of Reflection:
Specular/Regular Reflection: Occurs on smooth surfaces like mirrors or calm
water, resulting in a clear reflection.
Diffused/Irregular Reflection: Occurs on rough surfaces like clothing, paper,
or wavy water, causing light to scatter in various directions, resulting in a
blurry or no image.
Left-Right Reversal (Lateral Inversion)
-​ Plane mirrors exhibit left-right reversal, meaning the left side of the
object appears as the right side in the image and vice versa.

Multiple Images
-​ Placing two or more mirrors at an angle creates multiple images.

The number of images (N) can be calculated using the formula:

N = (360/θ) - 1
Where θ is the angle between the mirrors.
Example:
For two mirrors placed at 90°:
N = (360/90) - 1 = 4 - 1 = 3 images.
Parallel Mirrors
-​ Placing mirrors parallel to each other results in an infinite number of
images, continually reflecting between the two surfaces.

Key Takeaway
●​ Plane mirrors create virtual, upright, and same-sized images exhibiting
lateral inversion. The type of reflection depends on surface smoothness.
Multiple mirrors placed at angles produce multiple images, the number
of which is determined by the angle between them.
Plane Mirror FAQ
1. What is reflection and what is a plane mirror?
-​ Reflection is the bouncing off of light rays when they hit a surface. A plane
mirror is any mirror with a flat reflective surface, like the mirrors you see
in a bathroom or hallway.
2. What are the laws of reflection?
-​ First Law: The incident ray (incoming light), the reflected ray (outgoing
light), the angle of incidence (angle between the incident ray and the
normal line), the angle of reflection (angle between the reflected ray and
the normal line), and the normal line (an imaginary line perpendicular to
the mirror at the point of incidence) all lie on the same plane.
-​ Second Law: The angle of incidence is always equal to the angle of
reflection.
3. What are the characteristics of images formed by a plane mirror?
Images formed by plane mirrors are:
-​ Virtual: The image appears behind the mirror and cannot be projected onto
a screen.
-​ Upright: The image is oriented in the same direction as the object.
-​ The same size as the object: The image has the same height and width as
the object.
-​ Located the same distance behind the mirror as the object is in front of it.
-​ Laterally inverted: The image is reversed left to right, as if flipped.
4. What is the difference between specular and diffuse reflection?
-​ Specular reflection occurs on smooth surfaces like mirrors or calm water.
The reflected rays are parallel, resulting in a clear reflection.
-​ Diffuse reflection occurs on rough surfaces like clothing or paper. The
reflected rays scatter in different directions, resulting in a blurry or no
reflection.
5. What is lateral inversion?
-​ Lateral inversion, also called left-right reversal, is a characteristic of
images formed by plane mirrors. It makes the left side of the object appear
as the right side of the image and vice versa. For example, if you raise
your right hand, your reflection will appear to raise its left hand.
6. How are multiple images formed by mirrors?
-​ Multiple images are formed when two or more mirrors are arranged at an
angle. The number of images formed can be calculated using the formula:
N = (360/θ) - 1, where N is the number of images and θ is the angle
between the mirrors.
7. What is a kaleidoscope and how does it work?
-​ A kaleidoscope is a tube containing mirrors and colorful objects. The
mirrors are arranged at an angle to produce multiple reflections of the
objects, creating symmetrical and visually appealing patterns.
8. What happens when two mirrors are placed parallel to each other?
-​ When two mirrors are parallel, they create an infinite number of images.
This is because the light bounces back and forth between the mirrors,
creating an illusion of images stretching to infinity.
Briefing Doc: Spherical Mirrors
This briefing doc reviews the main themes and important facts about spherical mirrors, based on
the provided source document.

What are Spherical Mirrors?

Definition: A curved mirror with a reflecting surface that is a section of a
sphere.
There are two types of spherical mirrors:
Concave Mirror (Converging Mirror): Parallel incident rays converge at a focal
point after reflection.
Convex Mirror (Diverging Mirror): Parallel incident rays diverge after reflection.
Common Example: A spoon exhibits both concave and convex surfaces.
Key Terminology
Center of Curvature (C): Center of the sphere forming the mirror.
Principal Axis: Straight line passing through C and the mirror's vertex.
Vertex (V): Point where the principal axis meets the mirror.
Radius of Curvature (R): Distance from V to C.
Focal Point (F): Point between C and V where parallel rays converge (concave)
or appear to diverge from (convex).
Focal Length (f): Distance from F to V.
Image Formation:
Real Image: Light rays actually meet after reflection. Can be projected onto a
screen. Inverted relative to the object.
Virtual Image: Light rays appear to diverge from the mirror after reflection.
Cannot be projected onto a screen. Upright relative to the object.
Ray Diagramming
Four principal rays are used to determine the location and characteristics of an
image formed by a spherical mirror:
P-F Ray: Parallel to the principal axis, reflects through F.
F-P Ray: Directed towards F, reflects parallel to the principal axis.
C-C Ray: Directed towards C, reflects back along its path.
V Ray: Directed to V, reflects at an equal angle from the principal axis.
Note: These rays are used for both concave and convex mirrors.
Applications of Convex Mirrors:
Side Mirrors: Provide a wider field of view due to their diverging nature.
Store Security Mirrors: Offer a panoramic view of the store, aiding in security.
Issue: The provided image depicting a side mirror incorrectly shows a
converging effect, which is a characteristic of concave mirrors.
Applications of Concave Mirrors:
Make-up Mirror: Provides a magnified and upright image when the object is
placed within the focal length.
Dental Mirror: Allows dentists to view a magnified and detailed image of teeth.
Conclusion
●​ Understanding the principles of reflection and image formation in
spherical mirrors is crucial in various applications, ranging from
everyday objects like car mirrors to specialized tools used in dentistry.
Ray diagrams provide a valuable visual aid in predicting the nature and
location of images formed by these mirrors.
Spherical Mirrors FAQ
1. What are the two types of spherical mirrors and how do they differ?
There are two types of spherical mirrors: concave and convex.
-​ Concave mirrors are converging mirrors. This means that parallel incident
rays converge or meet at a focal point after reflection. Think of the inside of
a spoon.
-​ Convex mirrors are diverging mirrors. This means that parallel incident
rays diverge after reflection. Think of the back of a spoon.
2. What is a real image and how is it different from a virtual image?
-​ Real images are formed when light rays actually meet after reflection from
a mirror. They can be projected onto a screen and appear inverted (upside
down) relative to the object.
-​ Virtual images occur when light rays do not actually intersect after
reflection, but appear to diverge from a point behind the mirror. They
cannot be projected onto a screen and appear upright relative to the object.
3. What are the key terms used to describe the geometry of a spherical mirror?
-​ Center of Curvature (C): The center of the sphere from which the mirror is a
section.
-​ Principal Axis: A straight line passing through the center of curvature and
the vertex of the mirror.
-​ Vertex (V): The point where the principal axis meets the mirror.
-​ Radius of Curvature (R): The distance from the vertex to the center of
curvature.
-​ Focal Point (F): The point where parallel rays of light converge (concave
mirror) or appear to diverge from (convex mirror) after reflection.
-​ Focal Length (f): The distance from the focal point to the vertex. The focal
length is half the radius of curvature (f = R/2).
4. What are the four principal rays used in ray diagramming for spherical
mirrors?
-​ P-F Ray: A ray parallel to the principal axis is reflected through the focal
point (concave) or appears to come from the focal point (convex).
-​ F-P Ray: A ray passing through the focal point (concave) or aimed at the
focal point (convex) is reflected parallel to the principal axis.
-​ C-C Ray: A ray passing through the center of curvature is reflected back
along its own path.
 -​ V Ray: A ray incident on the vertex is reflected at an equal angle from the
principal axis.
5. Where is the image located when an object is placed farther than the center
of curvature in front of a concave mirror?
-​ When an object is placed farther than the center of curvature (C) in front of
a concave mirror, the image will be located between the focal point (F) and
the center of curvature (C). The image will be real, inverted, and smaller
than the object.
6. What are some applications of convex mirrors?
Convex mirrors are used in a variety of applications because they provide a
wider field of view than a flat mirror. Some common examples include:
-​ Side mirrors on cars: Convex mirrors allow drivers to see a wider area
behind them, reducing blind spots.
-​ Security mirrors in stores: Convex mirrors help store employees monitor a
larger area of the store to deter shoplifting.
7. Why is a concave mirror used in a makeup mirror?
-​ Concave mirrors are used in makeup mirrors because when an object is
placed between the focal point (F) and the mirror, the image formed is
virtual, upright, and magnified. This allows the user to see a larger, more
detailed image of their face.
8. What type of image is formed by a convex mirror?
-​ Convex mirrors always form virtual, upright, and smaller images
regardless of the object's location.