Name the type of mirror used in the following situations.
(a) Headlights of a car
(b) Side/rear-view mirror of a vehicle
(c) Solar furnace
Support your answer with reason.
Types of mirror:
Type of mirror | Description | The image that they form |
Plane mirror | Flat mirrors | Almost the same proportion of images are produced but are reversed from left to right |
Convex mirror | spherical and curved outwards | Virtual, diminished and erect images are produced |
Concave mirror | spherical and curved inwards | Image depends on the position of the object. Virtual, as well as a real images, can be produced |
a) Headlights of a car -Concave mirror
When the light is placed on the focus of the mirror, it produces a strong beam of light which helps us to see the vehicles and the road ahead clearly
b) Side/rear-view mirror of a car -Convex mirror
As we need the image erected, upright straight, and diminished, so that there is a wider view of the road behind; we use a convex mirror
c) Solar furnace -Concave mirror
Rays come from infinity and form an object at the focus of the mirror. Then the parallel rays produce heat and the solar furnace gets heated up.
Different types of mirrors have different purposes and are used accordingly.