Uses of Concave Mirror

Applications of Concave Mirror

A concave mirror, which is also called a converging mirror has its reflecting surface bulging inwards, i.e. away from the incident light. There are numerous uses of concave mirrors in daily life. It is used in aircraft landing to guide the aeroplane, it is used as a torch to reflect the light rays, it is used during shaving to get an erect and enlarged image of the face, etc.

Read more: Types of mirrors

Some concave mirror uses are listed in the points below.

• Shaving mirrors
• Head mirrors
• Ophthalmoscope
• Astronomical telescopes
• Headlights
• Solar furnaces

Concave mirrors reflect light inward to one focal light. Therefore, they are mostly used to focus light. A concave mirror shows different image types depending on the distance between the mirror and the object. Concave mirrors are called converging mirrors because as light falls on the mirror, it collects the light and refocuses the parallel incoming rays. Some of the most important and common applications of the concave mirror are described below.

See the video below to know about the concave mirror in a detailed way

Used in Shaving Mirrors

Concave mirrors are most commonly used in shaving because of their reflective and curved surface. The concave mirror forms an enlarged and erect image of the face when the mirror is held closer to the face during shaving.

Concave Mirror Uses in the Ophthalmoscope

Concave mirrors are used in optical instruments such as Ophthalmoscope. Ophthalmoscope consists of a concave mirror with a hole in the centre. The doctor focuses through the small hole from behind the concave mirror while a light beam is directed into the pupil of the patient’s eye. This makes the retina visible and makes it easy for doctors to check.

Read More: Optical Instruments

Uses of Concave Mirror in Astronomical Telescopes

Concave mirrors are also used in making astronomical telescopes. In an astronomical telescope, a concave mirror of a diameter of 5 meters or more is used as the objective.

Concave Mirrors Used in Headlights

Concave mirrors are widely used in automobiles and motor vehicles headlights, torchlights, railway engines, etc. as reflectors. The light source is placed at the focus of the mirror, so after reflecting the light rays travel over a huge distance as parallel light beams of high intensity.

Used in Solar Furnaces

Large concave mirrors are used to focus sunlight to produce heat in the solar furnace. They are also used in solar ovens to collect a large amount of solar energy in the focus of the concave mirror for heating, cooking, melting metals, etc.

These were some common uses of the concave mirror in daily life. Concave mirrors are also used in satellite dishes, electronic microscopes, visual bomb detectors, etc.

Watch the video and learn about the difference between concave and convex lens

Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs

Q1

Which type of mirror is known as a converging mirror?

A concave mirror is known as a converging mirror.

Q2

Which part of the body is tested using an ophthalmoscope?

The eye examination is done using an ophthalmoscope.

Q3

What are the different types of mirrors?

Types of mirrors are:

• Plane mirror
• Convex mirror
• Concave mirror

Q4

Are concave mirrors used in torchlights?

Yes, concave mirrors are used in torchlights.

Q5

Why concave mirrors are used in solar furnaces?

Concave mirrors are used in the solar furnace to focus sunlight and produce heat.

Watch the videos and revise all the important concepts and questions in the chapter Light Reflection and Refraction Class 10

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