Why is a convex mirror is said to have a virtual principal focus?

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Solution

In a convex mirror, a parallel beam of light after reflection does not actually pass through the focus (F), but it appears to come from the focus behind the mirror. So, a convex mirror has a virtual principal focus which is situated behind the mirror.

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The principal focus of a convex mirror is virtual.

Q. A concave mirror is said to have a real focus whereas a convex mirror is said to have a virtual foucs. apply the same logic to concave and convex lenses and say which of them has a real focus and which has a virtual focus.

Q. Convex mirrors has virtual focus and concave has real focus.

Name the spherical mirror which has : (a) virtual principal focus. (b) real principal focus.

(a) With the help of a labelled diagram explain how a convex lens converges a beam of parallel light rays. Mark the principal axis, optical centre, principal focus and focal length of the convex lens on the diagram.
(b) State whether the convex lens has a real focus or a virtual focus. (c) List some things that convex lens and concave mirror have in common.

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