Question

For a convex spherical mirror of radius 10 cm, show that the image for a real object is always virtual, upright and reduced in size. For a virtual object, what is the condition for a real image? What will be the vertical orientation of the image in this case? What is the condition for an upright and magnified image?

Answer 1

For convex mirror, the focal length is negative

this means no matter where the object is placed with respect to the mirror, the image distance will always be negative.

because image distance is found as

1/q = 1/f - 1/p

where q is image distance and p is image distance

1/q = - 1/f - 1/p

we will get

q < 0 ( means image distance is negative)

this means

magnification, m > 0

this means magnification is positive and image is always reduced in size.

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The convex mirror will give a real image of virtual object for the following condition

p < f

object distance is less than the focal length of mirror

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the orientation of this image will be real and erect ( upright)