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interduction about concave mirror

A concave mirror is made by silvering the outer (or the bulging surface) of the hollow sphere such that the reflection takes place from the hollow (or concave) surface.

Uses of concave mirrors

Concave mirrors are used as shaving mirrors to see a large image of the face.
Concave mirrors are used by dentists to see the large images of the teeth of patients.
Concave mirrors are used as reflectors in torches , vehicle and head lights and search lights to get powerful beams of light.
Concave mirrors are used as doctor's head mirrors to focus light coming from a lamp on to the body parts of a patient.(such as eye, ear,nose,throat,etc .) to be examined by the doctor.
Concave dishes are used in TV dish antennas to receive TV signals from the distant commuication satellites.
Large concave mirrors are used in the field of solar energy to focus sun's rays for heating solar furnaces.


Characteristics of concave mirrors:

    The focal length is positive (because the object and the focus are on the same side of the mirror)
    The object and the focus are on the same side of the mirror (inside the arc)
    Real images can be formed by the mirror when the object is outside of the focus; an inverted image is formed
    Virtual images are formed by the mirror when the object is within the focus; an erect image is formed
    No image is formed when the object is at the focus
    When the object is at the center of curvature, an inverted image is formed at the center of curvature .


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