Question

A concave spherical mirror with a real object will always form a real image.

• A. Always True
• B. Always False
• C. May be True in some cases
• D. Data Insufficient

Answer 1

The correct option is B Always False

Can you think of a situation (in other words, the region where the object should be located) when even the concave mirror cannot converge the rays from it to make them actually meet! If we keep shifting the object around, we see that the position between pole and focus is.

Let me give you a way to remember this, by recognizing a pattern, as the object moves closer from infinity, the rays from it are more and more diverging as they hit the mirror, and once the object crosses the focus, the rays after hitting the mirror are also diverging! So, a virtual image is formed.

Also, have you noticed? When you look at your reflection on the concave end of a shiny metal spoon it appears inverted from far away, and flips and becomes erect as you move close to it.