Concept preview

What you will be able to do

1. 01Distinguish concave and convex mirrors and their focal points
2. 02Draw ray diagrams to locate images
3. 03Use the mirror equation and magnification (1/f = 1/dₒ + 1/dᵢ, m = −dᵢ/dₒ)

A flat mirror just gives back a life-size copy. Curve it, and it can magnify, shrink, flip an image upside down, or throw a beam of light for a mile. There are two shapes: a concave mirror curves inward like the inside of a spoon (it converges light), and a convex mirror bulges outward like the back of a spoon (it diverges light).