Question

When does a concave mirror produce a virtual, erect, and enlarged image of an object?

Answer 1

Object in between the Focus and Pole of the Mirror

1. The above Fig. shows the object PQ between the focus F and the pole O of the concave mirror.
2. Ray 1 is parallel to the principal axis so that ray 1' passes through F. The ray 2 appears to pass through the centre of curvature C and, therefore, retraces its path as ray 2'.
3. The two reflected rays 1' and 2' form a divergent beam, i.e., do not meet at any point.
4. However, when produced backwards the two rays appear to meet at point Q'. Clearly Q' is virtual image of the point Q of the object and P'Q' is the image of PQ.

Hence, the image formed is virtual, erect, enlarged, and behind the mirror.