The pole is the point at the center of the reflecting surface of a spherical mirror. It lies on the surface of the mirror and serves as a crucial reference point in discussions about spherical mirrors.
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In the context of spherical mirrors, the term “pole” refers to the central point on the mirror’s surface. It is the point of intersection of the mirror’s principal axis (an imaginary line passing through the center of curvature and the vertex) with the mirror itself. The pole is crucial for defining angles of incidence and reflection, as well as locating the image formed by the mirror. Understanding the pole is essential in applying the laws of reflection to spherical mirrors, aiding in the analysis of image formation, and determining the optical characteristics of concave and convex mirrors.