Curved Mirrors
Go to go to http://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/refln/Lesson-3/The-Anatomy-of-aCurved-Mirror to see a diagram. Use V instead of A for the vertex for the diagram.
Word
Converging
(concave) mirror
Diverging (convex)
mirror
Definition
Example
Define the following parts of a curved mirror
Centre of curvature Vertex (V):
Principal axis
(C):
Focus (F)
Label the curved mirror.
VC-
F-
Optical Ray Diagram Rules- go to
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/whitmanhs/academics/science/physics/
talaat/webpages/notes/apB/RayDiagrams.pdf to see each of these rules and draw it on
the sheet below, please use a ruler.
Rules Description
Diagram
When an incident ray travels parallel
 to the principal axis, it is reflected
through the focus (F).

When an incident ray passes
through the centre of curvature (C),
it is reflected back onto itself.

When an incident ray passes
through the focus (F), the reflected
ray is parallel to the principal axis.
Mirror Ray Diagram
Directions: Use the rules from the Optical Ray Diagram Rules information sheet, use the
following applet to determine where the images form.
http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Physics-Interactives/Reflection-and-Mirrors/OpticsBench/Optics-Bench-Interactive. Be sure to click on mirror on the top and NOT lens.
Play around with the height and focal point once you have drawn your images. Hint: a
couple are tricky, you will need to do some research if you are unsure of your answer.
Also, you will have to use the rules to draw the diverging mirror on your own, feel free
to google or youtube how to do this.
Curved Mirrors
Concave (converging)Mirror
Case 1: Object is far beyond C
Object Location
Size
Attitude
Location
Type
Case 2: Object is at C
Object Location
Size
Attitude
Location
Type
Case 3: Object is between C and F
Object Location
Size
Attitude
Location
Type
Case 4: Object at F
Object Location
Size
Attitude
Location
Type
Case 5: Object between F and Mirror
Object Location
Size
Attitude
Location
Type
Convex (Diverging) Mirror
Optical Ray Diagram Rules for Convex Mirror
Any ray traveling parallel to the principal axis is reflected such that it appears to pass through
the virtual focus (F).
Any ray appearing to travel through the virtual focus (F) is reflected parallel to the principal
axis.
Any ray appearing to travel through the centre of curvature © is reflected back along itself
Case 1: Anywhere
Object Location
Size
Attitude
Location
Type