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Concave Mirrors: Learn its Types, Uses and its Difference from Convex Lens

Last Updated on Jan 24, 2025
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Concave mirrors as the name suggests means mirrors which are shaped in the manner of a concave lens. Like any other mirror these also have the reflective properties but these mirrors also are shaped peculiarly. These mirrors are sometimes known as spherical mirrors since the curve that these mirrors have are part of some bigger sphere. These mirrors have some very useful properties alongside the normal properties of mirrors, which are used in our daily lives.

This Physics article will deal in detail with concave mirrors.

Concave Mirrors

Concave mirrors are defined as mirrors in which the outer curved surface is painted and the inner surface becomes the reflecting surface. The reflecting surface in such a mirror is curved inwards.

Image Formation

The image formation by concave mirrors depends upon a number of factors such as the position of the object, distance from focus, etc. However, the image formed by the concave mirrors can be categorized as

  • If the object is at infinity then the image is formed at the focus and it is real and inverted.

  • If the object is at a point beyond the centre of curvature then the image is formed at a point which is between the centre of curvature and focus. The image is diminished.

  • If the object is at the centre of curvature, the image which is real and of the same size is formed at the centre of curvature.

  • If an object is placed between the centre of curvature and focus, the image forms behind the centre of curvature. The image is real and magnified.

  • If the object is at focus then the image is at infinity.

  • If the object is between the focus and the pole, then the image is virtual and erect.

Learn more about reflection and refraction of light.

Focal Length of concave Mirror

The distance between the focus and the pole of the concave mirror is known as the focal length of the mirror. It is negative according to the sign convention.

Magnification of concave Mirror

The magnification of a concave mirror is given by the ratio between the size of the object and the size of the image. A concave mirror forms a magnified image when the object is between the focus and the pole.

Sign Convention

The sign convention used in a concave mirror can be explained as:

The region above the principal axis is positive whereas the region beneath the principal axis is negative. If any light ray is going right it is positive whereas if the light ray is going left it is negative.

Also, learn about the Difference Between Real Image and Virtual Image


Uses of Concave Mirror

The uses of concave mirror are as follows:

  • Shaving mirrors
  • Headlights
  • Astronomical telescopes
  • Solar furnaces

Read our article on concave lenses

Properties of Concave Mirror

The properties of a concave mirror are as follows:

  • It has its interior surface reflective which is also the curved surface.
  • They reflect the image to a single focal point.
  • It can form magnified images

Do check our article on mirror equations

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Difference between Concave and Convex Mirror

The difference between the concave and convex mirrors is summarized below:

Concave Mirror  Convex Mirror 
The reflective surface of the concave mirror is on the inner side of the spherical surface. The reflective surface of the convex mirror is on the outer side of the spherical surface.
Focus is in front of the mirror, i.e. focal length is negative. Focus lies behind the mirror, i.e. focal length is positive.
The image formed by a concave mirror is real, inverted and enlarged. The image formed by a convex mirror is virtual, erect and diminished.
An image can be projected on a screen as if they are real. Images cannot be projected on a screen since they are virtual.
They are used in reflecting telescopes, shaving mirrors, torchlights, etc. Convex mirrors are used as side view or rearview mirrors in vehicles.

Hope this article about concave mirrors was able to get the concept of this topic in motion. There are many such interesting topics and their real-life applications to learn about, just download the Testbook app and start browsing to get insights on them which can clear all your concepts regarding them.

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Concave Mirrors FAQs

A Convex and a Concave mirror are types of spherical mirrors.

The reflective surface of the concave mirror is on the inner side of the spherical surface whereas the reflective surface of the convex mirror is on the outer side of the spherical surface.

These mirrors are known as spherical mirrors because they are part of a sphere.

The uses of a concave mirror are in reflecting telescopes, shaving mirrors, torchlights, etc whereas the uses of a convex mirror are in side view or rearview mirrors in vehicles.

A convex mirror is made by grinding a thick plane mirror into a bulging shape whereas a concave mirror is made into its shape.

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