Image Formation by a Concave Mirror
1.) For a real object very far away from the mirror, the real image is
formed
at the focus.
2.) For a real object close to the mirror but outside of the center of
curvature, the real image is formed between C and f. The image is
inverted and smaller than the object.
3.) For a real object at C, the real image is formed at C. The
image is inverted and the same size as the object.
4.) For a real object between C and f, a real image is formed outside of
C. The image is inverted and larger than the object.
5.) For a real object at f, no image is formed. The reflected rays are
parallel and never converge.
6.) For a real object between f and the mirror, a virtual image is formed
behind the mirror. The position of the image is found by tracing the
reflected rays back behind the mirror to where they meet. The image is
upright and larger than the object.
Back to John Homepage