Diverging Mirror

Definition

A diverging mirror is a type of curved mirror that causes light rays to spread out or diverge, resulting in the formation of a virtual, upright, and smaller image of the object placed in front of it. This type of mirror is commonly used in various applications, including makeup mirrors, shaving mirrors, and some vehicle side-view mirrors.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Diverging mirrors have a negative focal length, meaning the focal point is located behind the mirror's surface.
2. The image formed by a diverging mirror is always virtual, upright, and smaller than the object.
3. The closer an object is placed to a diverging mirror, the larger the virtual image will appear.
4. Diverging mirrors are used in applications where a wider field of view is desired, such as in vehicle side-view mirrors.
5. The magnification of a diverging mirror is always less than 1, meaning the image is smaller than the object.

Review Questions

• Explain the key features of a diverging mirror and how it differs from a concave mirror.
  • A diverging mirror is a type of curved mirror that causes light rays to spread out or diverge, resulting in the formation of a virtual, upright, and smaller image of the object placed in front of it. This is in contrast to a concave mirror, which reflects light inwards, causing light rays to converge and form a real, inverted, and magnified image. Diverging mirrors have a negative focal length, meaning the focal point is located behind the mirror's surface, while concave mirrors have a positive focal length with the focal point in front of the mirror.
• Describe the relationship between the object distance and the image size in a diverging mirror.
  • In a diverging mirror, the closer an object is placed to the mirror's surface, the larger the virtual image will appear. This is because the divergence of light rays becomes more pronounced as the object is moved closer to the mirror. Conversely, as the object distance increases, the virtual image becomes smaller. This relationship between object distance and image size is an important characteristic of diverging mirrors and is often utilized in applications such as makeup mirrors and vehicle side-view mirrors, where a wider field of view is desired.
• Analyze the role of diverging mirrors in various applications and explain how their properties contribute to their usefulness.
  • Diverging mirrors are commonly used in applications where a wider field of view is desired, such as in makeup mirrors, shaving mirrors, and vehicle side-view mirrors. The key properties of diverging mirrors that make them useful in these applications are their ability to form virtual, upright, and smaller images. This allows the user to see a larger area of their surroundings, which is particularly beneficial in the case of vehicle side-view mirrors, where a wider field of view can improve safety by reducing blind spots. Additionally, the magnification of a diverging mirror is always less than 1, meaning the image is smaller than the object, which is desirable in these applications to provide a more comprehensive view without distorting the image.

Related terms

Concave Mirror: A concave mirror is a curved mirror that reflects light inwards, causing light rays to converge and form a real, inverted, and magnified image of the object.

Focal Length: The focal length of a mirror is the distance from the mirror's surface to the point where parallel light rays converge or diverge after reflection.

Virtual Image: A virtual image is an image that appears to be located behind the mirror, but does not actually exist in that physical space. It is formed by the divergence of light rays.