Mirror Equation

1. What are Mirrors?

Mirrors are reflective surfaces that bounce back light, allowing us to see our own reflection and objects in front of them. They are commonly made of glass with a reflective coating.

2. What are the 3 Types of Mirrors?

The three main types of mirrors are:

  • Plane Mirrors
  • Concave Mirrors
  • Convex Mirrors

3. What are Concave and Convex Mirrors?

  • Concave Mirrors: Curved inward, they can focus light or create magnified or diminished images.
  • Convex Mirrors: Curved outward, they diverge light and create smaller, wider images.

4. What is the Mirror Equation?

The formula for mirror equation is 1/f = 1/v+1/u.

5. How does the Mirror Equation Work?

The mirror equation quantifies the relationship between the object distance (v), the image distance (u), and the focal length (f).

6. What are the Types of Images Produced by Spherical Mirrors?

The concave mirror produces both real and virtual images.

7. What is a Real Image?

A real image is a point where actual light rays converge after reflecting off a mirror or passing through a lens. It can be captured on a screen or observed directly.

8. What is a Virtual Image?

A virtual image is an apparent image that appears to be in a location where light rays appear to diverge or do not actually converge. It cannot be captured on a screen.

9. What is the Equation for Magnification of a Mirror?

The equation for magnification (M) of a mirror is:

M = – (image height) / (object height) = – (image distance)/(object distance)

In this equation, a negative sign indicates an inverted image, while a positive sign denotes an upright image.

10. What is Lens and Mirror Equation?

Lens Formula is given as 1/f = 1/v – 1/u where as Mirror Equation is Given as 1/f = 1/v + 1/u



Mirror Equation

Mirror Equation in Physics is the equation for mirrors that provides the relation between the distance of the object and the image, as well as its focal length. Mirror Equation is helpful in determining object position, image position or focal length given that two of the parameters are given. In optics, which is the branch of science that deals with the study of light and its interactions with various materials and optical elements, mirrors are used in various instruments for various purposes. Thus, understanding the relationship between the focal length of the mirror and the distance between the object and the image from the mirror is very important.

In this article, we will explore the concept of the Mirror Equation in detail, Mirror Equation Proof, and Mirror Equation for Magnification with various types of mirrors as well. So, let’s start learning about the concept of Mirror Equations.

Table of Content

  • What is Mirror in Optics?
  • What is Mirror Equation?
  • Sign Convention for Mirror Equation
  • Types of Mirrors
  • Applications Of Mirror Equation

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What is Mirror in Optics?

In optics, a mirror is an optical device which reflects the light and allows us to see objects by redirecting the light that strikes it. Mirrors have a smooth, highly reflective surface, typically made of glass with a thin metallic coating on the backside. The most common type of mirror is the flat or plane mirror, but there are also curved mirrors with different shapes and properties, such as concave and convex mirrors, which we will discuss further in the article....

What is Mirror Equation?

Mirror Equation is a formula that provides the relationship between the focal length, image distance, and object distance of any spherical mirror. The Mirror Equation is based on the principles of reflection and is given by...

Sign Convention for Mirror Equation

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Types of Mirrors

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Applications Of Mirror Equation

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Solved Examples on Mirror Equation

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Mirror Equation – FAQs

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