Question

Magnification produced by a rear view mirror fitted in vehicles

• A. is less than one
• B. is more than one
• C. is equal to one
• D. can be more than or less than one depending upon the position of the object in front of it.

Answer 1

The correct option is A is less than one

We know, magnification of a mirror,

$m=\frac{\text{height of the image}\left(h_i\right)}{\text{height of the object}\left(h_0\right)}$

If the magnification is $m\ge 1$, then height of the image is equal or greater than the height of object .A small part of the image will be viewed through the possible aperture of the mirror. Thus, we cannot have the detailed idea of motion of vehicles behind us.

But in the rearview mirror, we can easily see even the bigger vehicles as the mirror forms a virtual , erect but diminished image of the actual object.

Hence, the magnification of rearview mirror is always less than one.

Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

Note:- Convex mirrors are used as rear view mirrors because they produce a virtual , erect and diminished image of the actual object.