Concave vs Convex Mirror: Difference Between Concave and Convex Mirror

Concave Mirrors and Convex Mirrors

In the realm of physics, there exist two primary kinds of spherical mirrors: Concave Mirrors and Convex Mirrors. Spherical mirrors are essentially mirrors with curved surfaces, forming part of a hollow glass sphere, distinct from flat mirrors.

A Concave Mirror curves inward on its reflecting surface, earning it the nickname ‘Converging Mirror.’ Conversely, a Convex Mirror features an outwardly curved reflective surface and is referred to as a ‘Diverging Mirror.’

These two mirror types find wide-ranging applications in our daily lives. The key distinction between them lies in how they handle light: Concave mirrors converge light rays to a single point, while Convex mirrors disperse light rays from a central point.

Also Check: Uses of Concave Mirrors and Convex Mirrors

What is a Mirror?

A mirror is like a shiny surface that reflects light and makes pictures. These pictures can be either real or not real.

The thing you’re looking at makes the light bounce, and the pictures are made by the bouncing light.

We can group these pictures into two categories: real and not real. Real ones happen when the light bounces together, and not real ones happen when the light spreads out.

Imagine a flat, smooth mirror – like the ones you find on walls. It always makes not real pictures. These not real pictures are always the same as the thing you’re looking at, and they stand upright.

Now, think about a different kind of mirror, a spherical mirror. This mirror is curved, like a piece of a glass ball.

What are Spherical Mirrors?

Spherical mirrors are mirrors shaped like parts of a round ball. On one side, they have a silvery coating, and on the other side, there’s a polished surface that reflects light. These mirrors create two kinds of images: real and virtual. There are mainly two types of spherical mirrors: concave and convex. You’ll find these mirrors in many everyday items where they’re used for reflecting light.

What are Concave Mirrors?

A concave mirror is a special kind of mirror where the inside surface reflects light. People also call it a “converging mirror” because it makes parallel light rays come together at a point known as the focal point. If you look at its shape, it resembles a spoon.

The following are the properties of concave mirrors:

• Concave mirrors work by causing light to come together at a specific point on their surface, then bouncing back.
• When a concave mirror is positioned very close to an object, it produces an enlarged, upright, and virtual image.
• If the object is situated farther away from the mirror, the resulting image is smaller and flips to become a real and inverted one.
• Concave mirrors have the flexibility to create images that are either tiny or large, and they can be either real or virtual.

What are Convex Mirrors?

A convex mirror is a type of curved mirror with an outward-bending surface. They’re often called diverging mirrors. With convex mirrors, when light hits them, it bounces off in a way that spreads apart from where it started.

Convex mirrors have the following characteristics:

• Pictures produced by convex mirrors appear upright, smaller, and concentrate on the subject.
• These mirrors are referred to as diverging mirrors because the light that bounces off them scatters in various directions.
• They find practical use as rear-view mirrors since they can spread out light rays and create virtual images.

Difference Between Concave and Convex Mirror

There are two different kinds of spherical mirrors: concave and convex. A concave mirror brings light rays together, while a convex mirror spreads them apart. In essence, the main difference between these mirrors is as follows:

Image Formation By Concave and Convex Mirror

Spherical mirrors create images when they interact with light. Here are some simple rules for how light behaves with concave and convex mirrors:

1. If a ray hits the mirror’s center (called the pole), it bounces back at the same angle.
2. When a ray runs parallel to the mirror’s main line (principal axis) and hits a concave or convex mirror, it reflects through the focus point.
3. If a ray passes through the focus and strikes a concave or convex mirror, it reflects parallel to the principal axis.
4. A ray that goes through the center of curvature will bounce back along its original path.

Image Formation By Concave Mirror

Concave mirrors create images in a specific way, and here’s a simple summary:

Image Formation By Convex mirror

Formation of images with convex mirrors goes the following: