Question

Two concave mirrors are kept on the either side of a candle such that, the focus of one mirror coincides with the center of curvature of the other mirror as shown in figure.

Explain:
(i) Nature of the image of the candle formed by both the mirrors.
(ii) Nature of the image after one reflection in each mirror.

Answer 1

(i) Image formed by both the mirrors:
(a) Image formed by mirror $1:$
The object for mirror $1$ is at C. The image formed will be at C, real and inverted.
(b) Image formed by mirror $2:$
The object for mirror $2$ is between C and F. The image will be formed beyond C, real, inverted and enlarged.

(ii) Image after one reflection in each mirror.
(a) Image of the image formed by mirror $2$ with respect to mirror $1:$
The image formed by mirror $2$ will now be the object for mirror $1.$ It is present between F and P of the mirror $1.$ The image will be virtual, diminished and erect. Since the object i.e. the image formed by mirror $2$ is already inverted, the virtual image formed by the mirror $1$ will be inverted with respect to the candle.
(b)Image of the image formed by mirror $1$ with respect to mirror $2:$
The image formed by mirror $1$ will be the object for mirror $2.$ It is at C, inverted and of the same size as that of candle. It is between C and F of the mirror $2.$ It forms a real, inverted and enlarged image beyond C. But since the image formed by mirror $1$ is already inverted, mirror $2$ forms an erect image with respect to the candle.