Question

Complete the following diagrams by drawing the reflected ray for each of the incident ray A and B.

Answer 1

Hint:The two given diagrams are that of a convex mirror and a convex mirror respectively. Two rays are incident on each of the mirrors from the same direction but since the reflecting surfaces of the two mirrors are different, therefore, two different types of images are formed from both of them. This is due to the different properties of the reflecting surfaces.

Complete solution:
Convex mirror:
The incident ray A, when reflected from the surface of the convex mirror, reflects back parallel to the principal axis of the mirror. If we extend ray A behind the mirror, we find that the ray coincides with the focus of the mirror. The ray B is incident on the convex mirror such that it coincides with the center of curvature of the mirror. Hence, it retraces its path along the incident ray when reflected back from the surface of the mirror. The image formed is virtual and erect.

Concave mirror:
The incident ray A coincides with the principal focus of the concave mirror. Therefore, after reflection this ray travels parallel to the principal axis of the mirror. On the other hand, the ray incident ray B coincides with the center of curvature of the mirror, hence this reflected ray retraces its path back. The image formed is real and inverted.

Note:
In a concave mirror, as we bring the object closer to the mirror, the image formed gets enlarged and is also virtual. The nearer is the object to the reflecting surface, the bigger is the image formed. Due to this special property, the concave mirrors are used as shaving mirrors or make up mirrors to get the details of the face clearly.