Spherical Mirror

Description:

A spherical mirror is the mirror whose reflecting surface is part of a sphere. There are two types of spherical mirrors, concave mirror and convex mirror.

Concave mirror

Spherical mirror with inner face as the reflecting surface is known as concave mirror.

Center is pressed in concave mirror.

Convex mirror

Spherical mirror with outer face as the reflecting surface is known as concave mirror.

Center is raised in convex mirror.

Terminologies used with spherical mirror −

Center of curvature (C)

Center of sphere of which mirror is a part is called as center of curvature.

Radius of curvature (R)

Radius of sphere of which mirror is a part is called as radius of curvature.

When the curvature of the sphere is less, the radius is large.

When the curvature of the sphere is more, the radius is small.

Pole (P)

Center of mirror reflecting portion is known as pole.

Principle axis

The line joining the center of curvature and the pole is known as principle axis.

Aperture

Aperture is the opening for light to incident on to the mirror.

Focus (F)

When the light is incident on the mirror with direction parallel to the principle axis they intersect at a single point on the principle axis, this point is known as focus.

Focal length (f)

Distance between the focus and pole is known as focal length.