Question

Light from the sun strikes the concave mirror pictured below. The image of the sun is formed at the point indicated.
When we place an object closer to the mirror than this point, what are the characteristics of the image formed (Size is compared to object)?

A. Larger, real, inverted
B. Smaller, real, inverted
C. Smaller, virtual, upright
D. Larger, virtual, upright

Answer 1

Hint: The concave mirror forms both type of images: real image and virtual image. The real image forms when it is formed on the same side of the concave mirror. Draw the ray diagram of the concave mirror when the object is placed closer to the mirror. From the ray diagram, identify the magnification of the image.

Complete step by step answer:
We know that the concave mirror forms both types of images: real image and virtual image. Since the rays reflected from the inner surface of the concave mirror converge at the point indicated in the figure, the point must be the focus of the mirror.

Now, we have given that the object is placed between this point and the plane of the mirror. We know that when we place the object between the focus and plane of the concave mirror, the image of the object forms behind the concave mirror. Let’s draw the ray diagram for this situation as shown in the figure below.

Thus, in the above figure, we can see that the image is formed above the principle axis. We know that the image formed above the principal axis is referred to as an erect or upright image. Also, this image is not formed by the converging of rays reflected from the mirror rather it is formed by back tracing the reflected ray. Therefore, the image is a virtual image. In the above ray diagram, we can see that the image is larger than the object.

So, the correct answer is “Option D”.

Note:
If the object is placed at the left of the focus, the image of the object will form on the same side of the mirror. This image is known as a real image since it is formed by focusing the reflected rays from the mirror. To answer these types of questions, students should know the properties of the spherical mirrors.