13

SPHERICAL MIRRORS

Syllabus:
. Spherical mirrors; characteristics of image formed by these mirrors. Uses of concave and convex 1nirror (only 1
simple direct ray diagrams are required).
Scope - Brief introduction to spherical mirrors, concave and convex mirrors, centre and radius of curvature,
pole and principal axis, focus and focal length; f = R/2 with proof, sirnple ray diagram for the formation of I
images in (a) concave mirror, when a small linear object is placed on the principal axis at a very large distance
(u >> R), at the centre of curvature, between C and F, at F, between F and P. (b) convex mirror, when a small
linear object is placed on the principal axis in front of the mirror.
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SPHERICAL MIRRORS, IMAGE FORMATION AND THEIR USES

13.1 SPHERICAL MIRRORS
A spherical mirror is made by silvering a
part of a hollow glass sphere. Thus
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REFLECTING A
SURFACE

LIGHT

Types of spherical mirrors : In Fig. 13.1,

the right part X of a hollow sphere is silvered on
its outer surface and it forms the concave mirror,
while the left part Y of the sphere is silvered on
its inner surface and it forms the convex mirror.
Thus depending on whether the inner or outer
surface of the sphere is silvered, we get spherical
mirrors of two types : (i) the concave mirror, and
(ii) the convex mirror.
REFLECTING
SURFACE

SILVERED

~-----~ -/SURFACE

REFLECTING
SURFACE

A SILVERED
SURFACE

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A reflecting surface which is a part of a I

sphere is ca~~ a spherica!__mi"or.
J

SILVERED
SURFACE

LIGHT

B
(a) CONCAVE MIRROR

(b) CONVEX MIRROR

Fil(. 13.2 l'o11ca e and co11Jex n1irrors

1

(ii) Convex mirror

A convex mirror is made by silvering the
inner surface of the piece of a hollow sphere
such that the reflection takes place from the outer
(or bulging) surface as shown in Fig. 13.2 (b).

13.2 BRIEF INTRODUCTION OF TERl\1S

RELATED TO A. SPHERICAi., MIRROR

: SILVERED :
I SURFACE I

(1) Centre of curvature

The centre ofcu11 ature oj'a 1nirror is the centre

of the sphere of ~vhich the 1nirror is a part.
1

:REFLECTING:
I SURFACE I
I

I
I
I

CONVEX
MIRROR

".....
B - - - -- BI
I
I

I
I
I

CONCAVE
MIRROR

Fig. 13.1 Spherical 111irrors

Fig. 13.1 shows the silvered and reflecting

surfaces of the concave and convex mirrors.
(i) Conctwe min-or
A concave mirror is made by silvering the
outer (or bulging) surface of the piece of a
hollow sphere such that reflection takes place from
the hollow (or concave) surface as shown in
Fig. 13.2 (a).

In Fig. 13. 3 , it is represented by the

syn1bol C.
The normal at any point of the mirror
passes through the centre of curvature C. In other
words, any line joining the su1face of mirror to
the centre of curvature C will be normal to the
surface of mirror at that point.
(2) Radius of curvature

The radius of sphere of which the spherical

mirror is a part, is called the radius of
curvature of the mirror.
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