Question

There are four mirrors labelled as I, II, III, and IV. Mirrors I and IV can form virtual and small images only. Mirror III can form an image that can be obtained on a screen. Mirror II cannot form real images of objects. Which of the given mirrors can form an inverted image of the object?"

Answer 1

Mirrors

1. Mirrors are reflective surfaces.
2. They are very smooth with no microscopic rough surfaces.
3. There are three kinds of mirrors.

Plane mirror

1. When the light rays get stroked on the flat mirror, they get reflected back
2. The incident rays and the reflected rays are on the same side and are coincident.
3. The incident rays, the reflected rays, the focus, and the center of curvature are all on the same side of the mirror and are at infinity.
4. It always produces a virtual image that is equal in size to the original size but flipped horizontally.

Convex mirror.

1. A convex mirror has a curved surface that is curved outwardly.
2. The incident rays and the reflected rays are on the same side but the focus and the center of curvature are on the other side of the mirror.
3. It produces a virtual image that is diminished and erect.

Concave mirror.

1. A concave mirror has a curved surface that is curved inwardly.
2. The incident rays, the reflected rays, the focus, and the center of curvature are all on the same side of the mirror.
3. The image it produces depends on the relative distance of the object from the mirror.
   1. When the object is placed beyond the center of curvature, the obtained image is diminished, real and inverted.
   2. When placed at the center of curvature, the image obtained is the same size as that of the object, real and inverted.
   3. When placed between the center of curvature and principal focus, the image obtained is enlarged, real, and inverted.
   4. When placed between the pole and the principal focus, the image obtained is virtual, enlarged, and erect.

Explanation

1. Since we have that mirrors I and IV can only form virtual and small images only, we can conclude that they are convex mirrors.
2. We know that convex mirrors only produce virtual and erect images.
3. Thus, mirrors I and IV cannot produce inverted images.
4. We know that mirror II cannot form real images.
5. Thus, it must either be a convex mirror or a plane mirror and we know that these cannot form an inverted image.
6. We know that mirror III can form an image on a screen. So, we have that mirror III can form real images.
7. So, it is a concave mirror. Consequently, it can form an inverted image.

Hence, only mirror III can produce an inverted image of the object.