Question

What is the nature of image formed by a concave mirror if the magnification produced by the mirror (a) +4, and (b) −2?

Answer 1

1. Magnification(m) produced by a mirror is defined as the ratio of the height of the image to the height of object.
2. That is, $m=\frac{h_i}{h_o}$
3. If the magnification produced by the mirror is greater than one then the image is larger in size than the object.
4. The magnification describes the nature of the image formed by the mirror.
5. If the magnification is positive it means that the image is virtual and erect.
6. The negative magnification describes that the image is real and inverted.

(a)

Given that;

Magnification produced by concave mirror = +4

As the magnification is positive,

The image is larger than the object, virtual and erect.

(b)

Given that;

Magnification produced by concave mirror = -2

As the magnification is negative,

The image formed is real and inverted and larger than the object.