What is the difference between a plane mirror and a curved mirror? (concave and convex)?

Question

The images you see in a curved mirrors look different from those in plane mirrors......whats the difference?

Answer 1

A plane mirror is flat mirror. A concave mirror looks like a satellite dish. It's like if you take a Plane mirror and cave it in. A convex mirror is the opposite.



You know when you go to a store, and those cameras are protected my the domes? That is convex. Now lets take a crater. A meteor impact leaves a crater. That crater is concave.



The difference in images is because the focal point of ieach mirror is different. A convex mirror has the focal point (the point at which the reflected light meets) behind the mirror. The concave mirror has the focal point in front of it.



You can find a great application in camping. They make a concave mirror with a little metal piece that extends from the center of the mirror up to the focal point. Just like a satellite dish. At the tip of this metal piece is a holder which you can put things on. You then take this mirror with the object in the holder and point it at the sun. It will burn the object. The focal point is where the rays meet and heat the oject.



Refer to the link below to see a more detailed scientific explanation.

Answer 2

Big Sam is correct about the physical characteristics of the mirrors you've mentioned. As for the reflection. I'm going to add that if you look at a plane mirror, that would give you a normal reflection.



Looking at a concave mirror it would show the reflection being warped that the reflection at the center of the mirror appearing to be the farthest point and smallest reflection.



Looking at a convex mirror it would show the a warped reflection showing the center being closer and bigger.

Answer 3

im a pro nanny. when i go to work, i dont expect people to do my job and still get paid as if I did it. You're only job as a high schooler, other than working at a mcdonalds, is to do good in high school. If you make this a habbit you'll want to get used to mcdonalds. this might seem harsh, but someone needs to tell you. someone will give you the answer to your hw, maybe, but i wont. because you dont do my job for free for me.