1

•C – center of curvature
•F – focus/focal point
•V – vertex
CONCAVE MIRROR

2
 RAY DIAGRAM 3

Rule One: Draw a ray, starting from the top of the

object, parallel to the principal axis and then
through the focus (F) after reflection.

Principal axis
object C V
F
 4

RAY DIAGRAMS

object C F V
Principal axis

Rule Two: Draw a ray, starting from the top

of the object, through the focus (F), then
parallel to the principal axis after reflection.
 RAY DIAGRAMS
5

object C F V
Principal axis

Rule Three: Draw a ray, starting from the top

of the object, through C, then back through C.

What do you notice about the three lines? THEY INTERSECT

The intersection is the location of the image.

 IMAGE CHARACTERISTICS
6

object C F V
Principal axis

After getting the intersection, draw an arrow down from

the principal axis to the point of intersection.
1) Is the image on the SAME or OPPOSITE side of the
mirror as the object? SAME side
2) Is the image ENLARGED or REDUCED?
3) Is the image INVERTED or UPRIGHT?
therefore it is REAL
 CASE 1: OBJECT BEYOND C
7

object C F V
Principal axis
image

Characteristics of the image

Location: between C and F
Orientation: inverted
Size: reduced
Type: real
 CASE 2: OBJECT AT C
8

object

C F V
Principal axis
image

Characteristics of the image

L: at C
O: inverted
S: same size
T: real
 CASE 3: OBJECT BETWEEN
9

C AND F
object

C F V
image Principal axis

Characteristics of the image

L: beyond C
O: inverted
S: enlarged size
T: real
 CASE 4: OBJECT AT F
10

object

C F V Principal axis

No image is formed
CASE 5: OBJECT BETWEEN F AND V 11

(F AND MIRROR)

image
object

C F V
Principal axis

Characteristics of the image

L: behind the mirror
O: upright
S: enlarged
T: virtual
 12

CONVEX MIRRORS
 RAY DIAGRAM FOR CONVEX 13

nStep 1: Draw a ray, MIRRORS

starting from the top of the
Step 1 in red
object, parallel to the
principal axis and then
reflect the ray away from
the mirror so that it looks
like it is coming from the
focal point. Continue the
reflected ray behind the
mirror with a dotted line.
 14

Principal axis
object

V
F C
 RAY DIAGRAM FOR CONVEX 15

MIRRORS
• Step 2: Draw a ray from
the same starting point
Step 2 in blue
and aim it at the focal
point. When the ray
reaches the mirror, reflect
it away from the mirror
parallel to the principal
axis. Continue that
parallel ray behind the
mirror with a dotted line.
 16

Principal axis

object

V
F C
 RAY DIAGRAM FOR 17

CONVEX MIRRORS
• Step 3: Draw another
ray from the same Ray 3 in green

starting point on the

object aimed at the
center of curvature.
When it reaches the
mirror, reflect it directly
back along itself.
 18

RAY DIAGRAM FOR CONVEX MIRRORS

•Intersection of
rays – location
of the image
 19

object V C Principal axis

F
image

Characteristics of the image

L: behind the mirror
O: upright
S: reduced
T: virtual
 CONVEX MIRRORS 20

•Curves outward
•Reduces images
•Virtual images
•Uses: Rear view mirrors,
store security mirrors

CAUTION! Objects are closer than they

appear!