Diverging Mirror or Convex Mirror

Convex Mirror can be considered as a part of a sphere. Consider a hollow glass sphere and cut a piece of the sphere as shown in the figure. The cut off piece has two surfaces, one which is bulging out or convex surface and other is a hollow surface that is on the same side as the centre of the original sphere is called as concave surface.

If we polish the inner surface or concave surface with silver and look at it toward the outward bulge or convex surface, we have a convex mirror. Mirrors of this type are also called divergent mirrors because the light beams that reach their surface and are parallel to their main axis are diverted in such a way that they separate, but their extensions come back together again in a point known as the focal point. The image produced by a convex mirror are always virtual, upright, and small.

Reflection Through Convex Mirrors :

When a narrow beam of light traveling parallel to the principal axis is incident on the reflecting surface of the mirror, as shown in the figure,Each ray is reflected according to the laws of reflection and diverges away from the mirror. The rays when produced backwards intersects the principal axis at F. The beam after reflection appear to diverge from a point F on the principal axis known as the focus. As the rays are diverging after reflection the convex mirror is also called diverging mirror.

USES OF CONVEX MIRRORS:

Convex mirrors are commonly used as rear view mirrors in vehicles because they always give an erect image and have wider field if view as they as curved outwards.

Big convex mirrors are used as shop security mirrors, the shop owner can keep an eye on the customers to look for thieves and shoplifters among them.

As car wing mirrors, to see through a wide angle behind the car.

In super markets and big shops to look out for shoplifters.

In buses, so that the driver can view the whole bus.

Sample Questions

(More Questions for each concept available in Login)

Question : 1

The convex mirror is also called _____________________ .
A. Diverging mirror	B. Converging mirror	C. Both of these .	D. None of these .
Right Option : A
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Question : 2

Which of the following are correct ? (a) When the hollow surface is on the same side as the centre of the original sphere is called as convex surface. (b) In case of spherical surface if we polish the inner surface or concave surface with silver and look at it toward the outward bulge or convex surface, we have a convex mirror . (c) Convex mirror is used in super markets and big shops to look out for shoplifters.
A. Only (a) and (b) is correct .	B. Only (b) and (c) is correct .	C. Only (a) and (c) is correct .	D. All of these .
Right Option : B
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