Chapter 17, Problem 75A

To determine

To discuss: The kind of mirrors that are used as a rearview mirrors of a car. Also, the advantages of such mirrors.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

Concave and convex are the two kinds of spherical mirrors. In the concave mirror inner surface is acting as the reflecting surface. The light rays reflected from the concave mirror are converging and hence concave mirror is also called converging mirror. The image formed by the concave mirror may be virtual or real, erect or inverted, magnified or diminished depending on the distance between the object and the mirror. In the convex mirror, outer surface is acting as the reflecting surface. The light rays reflected from the convex mirror are diverging and hence convex mirror is also called diverging mirror. The image formed by the convex mirror is always virtual, erect and diminished regardless of the distance between the mirror and the object.

Convex mirrors are used as a rearview mirror of a car. This is because they are curved outwards and they have a wide field of view.

The advantages of using convex mirror are:

It provides a broader field of view and hence permits the driver to see more.

It produces image of an object which is always erect while concave mirrors can produce inverted images as well.