A ray passing through the principal focus of a concave mirror, or directed towards the principal focus of a convex mirror, after reflection, emerges parallel to the principal axis.
What is the behavior of a ray passing through the principal focus of a concave mirror, and how does it differ in the case of a convex mirror?
Share
In a concave mirror, a ray passing through the principal focus reflects parallel to the principal axis. This behavior is converging, and the reflected rays converge to form a real image. In a convex mirror, a ray passing through the virtual focus (extrapolated behind the mirror) appears to diverge from the principal focus. This is a diverging behavior, resulting in the formation of a virtual image. The distinct behavior of rays passing through the principal focus in concave and convex mirrors illustrates their unique reflective characteristics, influencing the nature and location of the images formed by these mirrors.