What happens to the image formed by a spherical mirror when the mirror...
When the curvature of a spherical mirror changes, the position of the image also changes. This is because the curvature affects how light is focused, which in turn alters where the image is formed.
What happens to the image formed by a spherical mirror when the mirror...
Understanding Image Formation by Spherical Mirrors
When the curvature of a spherical mirror changes, it significantly affects the characteristics of the image formed. The correct answer to the question is option 'B', which states that the image position changes. Here’s a detailed explanation:
Impact of Mirror Curvature on Image Position
- Curvature Definition: The curvature of a mirror refers to the degree of its bending. A more curved mirror has a shorter radius of curvature.
- Focal Length: The focal length of a spherical mirror is directly related to its curvature. A mirror with a greater curvature has a shorter focal length, while a flatter mirror has a longer focal length.
- Image Location: When the curvature changes, the focal point shifts. Since the position of the image is determined by the object distance and the focal length, altering the curvature will change the focal length, thus changing where the image is formed.
Other Image Characteristics
- Image Size: The image size can change, but it depends on the object distance. While the image position changes due to the change in focal length, the size may remain constant or alter depending on the specific scenario.
- Image Shape: The shape of the image generally remains consistent as spherical mirrors create images that are either real or virtual, depending on the object position relative to the focal point.
- Image Clarity: A change in curvature can lead to distortion, but it does not necessarily make the image blurry unless the mirror's quality is poor.
In summary, when the curvature of a spherical mirror changes, the primary effect is on the image position due to the alteration in focal length. Understanding this principle is crucial for applications involving optics and mirror-based systems.