What do convex mirrors and concave mirror do to light?

Convex mirror and concave mirror have different refraction effects on light.

Convex mirrors, also called convex lenses, are usually made of transparent materials, such as glass or plastic. It diverges light, that is, it diverges light from the center. When the light passes through the convex mirror, it will be reflected by the mirror and spread outward, which makes the convex mirror very useful in many applications. For example, using the convex mirror in the rearview mirror can broaden our horizons and see a broader scene.

Concave mirror, also known as concave lens, is also made of transparent material, but its shape is opposite to that of convex mirror, which will focus the light on one point and form a small and bright focus. When light passes through concave mirror, it will be reflected by a mirror and concentrated at one point, which makes concave mirror very useful in many applications. For example, in a solar cooker, concave mirror can concentrate sunlight on a little point to heat food.

These two types of mirrors are widely used in our daily life, such as glasses, telescopes, microscopes and photographic lenses. They play an important role in optical technology and engineering, helping us to better understand and use the behavior of light.

The principle of convex mirror:

1, convex mirror can reflect light, which is due to the principle of light reflection. When the light passes through the convex mirror, it will be reflected and dispersed, so that the light cannot converge to one point. This kind of reflection can make people see a wider scene. For example, using convex mirrors in car rearview mirrors can broaden our horizons and see a wider scene behind the car.

2. Convex mirror has divergent effect on light, which is determined by the shape of convex mirror. When the light passes through the convex mirror, it will be reflected and spread around, making the object look smaller than the actual size on the same side of the convex mirror. This divergence enables the driver to see the scene behind and on both sides of the car, which improves the driving safety.

3. Convex mirrors can also image, which is due to the imaging principle of concave mirror. When an object is placed in focus, it forms an upright reduced virtual image on the same side of the convex mirror. The smaller the object distance, the larger the image distance and the larger the virtual image. This imaging principle can make people see clearer images. For example, using convex mirrors in surveillance cameras and telescopes can get wider and clearer images.