Question

Convex mirrors are used as rear-view mirrors in the motor vehicles because:
A. They reflect light better than the other mirrors
B. They produce images which are more clearer than those produced by others
C. They produce magnified images
D. They form images which are much smaller than the objects

Answer 1

Hint: Convex mirrors always form the images that are virtual and smaller than the actual object. When the object is far away from the mirror the image is upright and located at the focal point of that mirror.

Complete step by step answer:
Convex mirrors are used as rear-view mirrors in motor vehicles because they form virtual, erect and diminished images irrespective of distances of the object. Convex mirror helps the driver to view large areas of the traffic behind him and he can easily detect the vehicle coming or running behind him. Convex mirrors form very small images than the object.
Hence, the correct answer is option D.

Additional Information
Convex mirrors are often used in the big hallways of buildings, stores, hospitals, hotels etc. They provide safety to the bikers at the curves and turns and other places where there is lack of visibility. They are used in some automated teller machines as handy security features that allow the user to see what all is happening behind him.

Note:
Convex mirrors are used in passenger side mirrors on a car or automobiles and it is labelled as “objects in the mirror are closer than they appear” to warn the driver. Understand the difference between the convex and concave mirror as convex mirrors form a smaller image of any object but on the other hand concave mirrors form a magnified and inverted image of the object, this would form an image of a smaller area or place that would be hard to understand. So, don’t get confused between mirrors used in motor vehicles.