To create enlarged, virtual images, we can use concave mirrors. Let's understand why concave mirrors are suitable for this purpose.


A concave mirror is a spherical mirror with a reflecting surface that curves inward. It is also known as a converging mirror because it converges parallel incident rays of light to a point known as the focal point.


Virtual images are formed when the reflected rays of light appear to diverge from a point behind the mirror. These images cannot be projected onto a screen, and they are always erect (upright).


To create enlarged images, the magnification produced by the mirror should be greater than 1. Magnification is the ratio of the size of the image to the size of the object. In the case of concave mirrors, the magnification is positive and greater than 1, resulting in an enlarged image.


When parallel rays of light fall on a concave mirror, they converge to a point called the focal point. The distance between the focal point and the mirror is known as the focal length.

When an object is placed beyond the focal point of a concave mirror, a real inverted image is formed between the focal point and the mirror. This image is smaller than the object.

On the other hand, when an object is placed closer to the concave mirror than its focal point, a virtual and erect image is formed behind the mirror. This image is larger than the object and appears to be located at a distance greater than the focal length.


If we place an object closer to a concave mirror than its focal point, the reflected rays of light will appear to diverge and form a virtual image behind the mirror. This virtual image will be larger than the object and will appear to be located at a distance greater than the focal length.

Therefore, by using a concave mirror, we can create enlarged, virtual images that are suitable for various applications such as magnifying mirrors, reflecting telescopes, and makeup mirrors.

In summary, concave mirrors are capable of creating enlarged, virtual images due to their ability to converge parallel incident rays of light and form virtual images that are larger than the object.