NATS 1720 Lecture Notes - Lecture 22: Virtual Image, Optical Axis, Real Image
16 Jan 2018
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Types of mirrors we will deal with are: Concave mirrors--> where the surface of the mirror bends towards the axis. Convex mirrors--> where the surface of the mirror bends away from the axis (image from eastern illinois university website. https://www. ux1. eiu. edu/~cfadd/1160/ch24ml/crvmr. html) the link has helpful information on curved mirrors and their reflections. Note: the focal plane, in a sense, is an extension of the focus. 1. -rays parallel to the optical axis cross axis at a focal point. 2. -rays passing through the focal point will be reflected parallel to the optical axis. This means the trajectory of the ray can be reversed! Important note: the focus (common point of convergence of rays) of the mirror is a set property of the mirror; it"s specifically determined by the curvature of the mirror. Therefore, no matter where you aim the light beam on the mirror, its focus point is already determined by the shape/curvature of the mirror.
