Question

In parking mirrors a convex mirror is used instead of a plane mirror because:

• A. Convex mirror is cheap to build
• B. Convex mirror doesn't follow the laws of reflection
• C. Convex mirror has a higher field of view as compared to a plane mirror of the same size
• D. There is no such condition, even plane mirror can be used as a parking mirror.

Answer 1

The correct option is C Convex mirror has a higher field of view as compared to a plane mirror of the same size

The requirement of a parking mirror is to form the image of a larger area. Now, what area a mirror can cover (form the image) depends on the field of view of the mirror. A convex mirror has a larger field of view as compared to a plane mirror of the same size.

Which means an object O, will be seen in a larger area in a convex mirror as compared to a plane mirror.
From principle of reversibility of a light ray we can say that, if our eyes are placed at the place of O, it will be able to view a larger area in a convex mirror compared to a plane mirror.