Spherical Mirror

Sengupta C. S.
The paraxial approximation: All rays are nearly parallel to the optic
axis.
I.e. all angles are small
Spherical mirrors
A ray going through the focal point will emerge
parallel to the optic axis.
 hi si
M , M
ho so
 h0  hi
tan   , tan  
so  R R  si
si hi R  si si ( so  R)  so ( R  si )  si so  si R  so R  so si
  
so ho so  R 2 1 1
 2 si so  si R  so R   
R si so
1 1 1
 
si so f
Problem: A concave mirror has a radius of
curvature of 24cm. An object of height 8mm is
placed 40cm from the mirror. Find the location and
height of the image.
Problem: A concave mirror has a radius of
curvature of 24cm. An object of height 8mm is
placed 40cm from the mirror. Find the location and
height of the image.
Solution: f = 12cm,
1/si + 1/so = 1/f => si = f so / (so – f)
=> si = (12cm) (40cm) / [ 40cm – 12cm]
= 480 cm2 / 28 cm = 17.1cm
hi = M ho = - (si / so ) ho
= - (17.1 / 40) (8 mm) = - 3.4 mm
Problem: A concave mirror has a radius of
curvature of 24cm. An object of height 8mm is
placed 18cm from the mirror. Find the location and
height of the image.
Solution: f = 12cm,
si = f so / (so – f)
=> si = (12cm) (18cm) / [ 18cm – 12cm]
= 216 cm2 / 6 cm = 36 cm
hi = M ho = - (si / so ) ho
= - (36 / 18) (8 mm) = - 16 mm
Problem: A concave mirror has a radius of curvature
of 24cm. An object of height 8mm is placed 6cm
from the mirror. Find the location and height of
the image.
Problem: A concave mirror has a radius of curvature
of 24cm. An object of height 8mm is placed 6cm
from the mirror. Find the location and height of
the image.
Solution: f = 12cm,
1/si + 1/so = 1/f => si = f so / (so – f)
=> si = (12) (6cm) / [ 6cm – 12cm]
= 48 cm2 / -6 cm = - 8 cm
hi = M ho = - (si / so ) ho
= - (-8 / 6) (8 mm) = + 10.7 mm
Whenever the paraxial approximation is valid,

1 1 1 hi si
  M 
si so f ho so