What is an image?
We see objects, because they either emit or reflect light. We visually identify objects by the pattern of light that they emit or reflect. We gather some portion of that light on a detector (our eyes). In interpreting the pattern, we implicitly assume that the light traveled in a straight line from the object to the detector.
 | A real image of an object produces the same pattern of light as the object does somewhere in space. Some portion of the light from the real image reaches our detector along a straight-line path. The detector cannot distinguish between light coming from the object and light coming from the image. We interpret the same patterns in the same way. |
| A virtual image is the apparent position from which a pattern of light reaches our detector, if we make the assumption that it has traveled from its source to the detector along a straight-line path. Virtual images are formed when light from an object or from an image is reflected or bend on the way to the detector. |
Mirrors can produce real and virtual images. A flat mirror only produces virtual images.
Light rays from the object reflect off the mirror before hitting a detector. For the detector, the apparent position of the object is behind the mirror. Let xo denote the perpendicular distance of the object from the mirror surface, and let xi denote the perpendicular distance of the image from this surface. If we let distances in front of the mirror be positive and distances behind the mirror be negative, then we have xo + xi = 0. For mirrors, negative image distances are associated with virtual images and positive image distances are associated with real images.
Multiple images can be formed by combinations of flat mirrors. In the picture below light bouncing off one or both of the mirrors can reach the eye along three different paths. The detector sees three virtual images.
Problems:
| Determine the minimum height of a vertical, flat mirror in which a person
5'10'' in height can see his or her full image.
The height of the mirror must be half the height of the person, in this case 2'11''. | ||
| Two flat mirrors have their reflecting surfaces facing one another, with
the edge of one mirror in contact with the edge of the other, so that the
angle between the mirrors is a. When an
object is placed between the mirrors, a number of images are formed.
In general, if the angle a is such that na
= 360o,
where n is an integer, the number of images formed is n - 1. Graphically
find all the image positions for the case n = 6, when a point object is
between the mirrors, but not on the angle bisector.
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Light rays from a distant star are nearly perfectly parallel to each other when they reach earth. To produce a bright image of the star we want to gather as much light from the star as possible and bring it together in one spot, called a focus. A mirror with a parabolic surface can perfectly focus incoming light rays parallel to its axis. It produces a real image in the focal point of the parabola. A parabola is the locus of all points, which are equidistant from a line and a point (the focal point). All light rays from a distant source approaching the parabola parallel to its symmetry axis and reflecting from its surface have the same minimum travel time to the focal point of the parabola. By Fermat's principle light will therefore take all these paths, and the rays will come together at the focus.
A concave mirror with a spherical surface focuses light similarly to a parabolic mirror as long as the angle subtended by the spherical mirror section is small. A spherical mirror has a radius of curvature R and a focal length f with |f| = R/2. The figure below compares a parabolic and a concave spherical surface with the same focal length f. Near the optical axis the curves are nearly identical.
If an object is placed in front of the mirror at an object distance xo, then an image is formed at an image distance xi, where xo and xi satisfy the mirror equation,
1/xo + 1/xi = 1/f.
If xi is positive, we have a real image in front of the mirror surface, and if xi is negative, we have a virtual image behind the mirror surface.
The figure below shows an arrow in front of a concave spherical mirror and its virtual image behind the mirror. The image is upright and bigger than the object.
The image, in general, has not the same size of the object. We define the magnification M as the ratio of the height of the image hi to the height of the object ho. We have
M = hi/ho= -xi/xo.
If the magnification is negative, the image is inverted.
The figure below shows an arrow in front of a concave spherical mirror and its real image in front of the mirror. The image is inverted and smaller than the object. Concave mirrors form a real image if xo > f and a virtual image if xo < f.
A convex mirror produces only virtual images. The object and image satisfy the same mirror equation, but for a convex mirror f is negative. The figure below shows an arrow in front of a convex spherical mirror and its virtual image behind the mirror. The image is upright and smaller than the object.
We can determine the positions and sizes of images of points formed by spherical mirrors geometrically by drawing ray diagrams. Only two rays must be drawn.
Rules for drawing ray diagrams:
| Draw the spherical mirror surface of radius R. Draw a line through R, which crosses the spherical surface near its center. This is the optical axis. Mark R and f along the optical axis. |
| Draw the object in front of the mirror surface. Draw an incident ray parallel to the optical axis from a point on the object to the mirror, and a reflected ray from the mirror through f. (The reflected ray, or an extension of the reflected ray must pass through f.) |
| Draw a second incident ray through f, and a reflected ray parallel to the optical axis. (The incident ray, or an extension of the incident ray must pass through f.) |
| The intersection of the two reflected rays, or, for divergent rays, the intersection of their backward extensions, marks the position of the image. |
| To check the accuracy of your drawing, draw a third ray through the center of curvature R. (The ray or its extension must pass through R.) This ray reflects back onto itself. The intersection of all the rays marks the image of the chosen point. |
Problems:
| A concave mirror has a radius of curvature of 20 cm. Find the
location of the image for object distances (a) 40 cm, (b) 20 cm, (d) 10 cm. For each case state whether the image is real or virtual, and upright or inverted. Find the magnification for each case.
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| A object 2 cm in height is placed 3 cm in front of a concave mirror.
If the image is 5 cm in height and virtual, what is the focal length of the
mirror?
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Links:
| Mirrors: Ray diagrams and Java Applets |
| Concave Mirror |
| Concave ray diagram |
