Define the pole of the Spherical Mirror?

The pole of a spherical mirror is the exact center point of the mirror's curved surface. It is also called the midpoint of the mirror and is usually denoted by the letter P.

What is a Spherical Mirror?

A spherical mirror is a mirror that is curved like the surface of a ball. It is a part of a hollow sphere and can be of two types:

• Concave mirror: Curved inward like the inside of a spoon
• Convex mirror: Curved outward like the back of a spoon

What is the Pole in a Spherical Mirror?

The pole is the central point on the mirror’s surface. It lies on the surface where the curve begins and is used as a reference for drawing ray diagrams and calculating image distances. In ray diagrams, the pole is shown as a point marked “P”. The principal axis passes through this point and is an imaginary straight line that cuts the mirror exactly in the middle.

Importance of the Pole

The pole of a mirror is very important in understanding how light behaves when it hits the mirror. Here’s why it matters:

• Reference Point: All distances in mirror calculations are measured from the pole.
• Ray Diagrams: The pole is where the mirror surface is centered, and it helps to draw accurate ray paths.
• Mirror Equation: In the formula 1/f = 1/v - 1/u, all values are taken with respect to the pole.