Concave mirror
Concave mirror is an interactive experiment in Ray Optics, a free simulation from StudyFi Lab that runs right in your browser.
A concave mirror reflects parallel rays through its focal point F, halfway to the centre of curvature (f = R/2). The ray to the vertex reflects at the same angle, and the ray through F returns parallel to the axis. The lens equation holds here too, 1/f = 1/dₒ + 1/dᵢ; a real image forms in front of the mirror.
Try this: Bring the object between F and the mirror — you get a magnified upright image behind it, like in a make-up mirror.
Frequently asked questions
What does the “Concave mirror” experiment show?
A concave mirror reflects parallel rays through its focal point F, halfway to the centre of curvature (f = R/2). The ray to the vertex reflects at the same angle, and the ray through F returns parallel to the axis. The lens equation holds here too, 1/f = 1/dₒ + 1/dᵢ; a real image forms in front of the mirror.
How do I try “Concave mirror”?
Bring the object between F and the mirror — you get a magnified upright image behind it, like in a make-up mirror.
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