Summary

• Description:

  The PDF document comprises Form 2 Physics notes on the topic of Reflection at Curved Surfaces.

  The topics and sub-topics covered in the document include:

  • Introduction to Curved Mirrors
    • Curved mirrors are also known as spherical mirrors and are formed from a silvered spherical glass.
    • A concave mirror (converging mirror) is formed when the outside surface is silvered.
    • A convex mirror (diverging mirror) is formed when the inside surface is silvered.
  • Terminology of Spherical Mirrors
    • Key parts are defined, including the Centre of Curvature (C), the Pole (P), the Principal Axis, the Principal Focus (F), the Radius of Curvature (r), and the Focal Length (f).
    • It is noted that the principal focus (F) is real for a concave mirror but virtual for a convex mirror.
    • The notes also briefly mention parabolic mirrors and their use in car headlights and spotlights.
  • Image Formation by Ray Diagrams
    • The notes outline the three principal rays used to locate an image formed by a curved mirror:
      • A ray parallel to the principal axis is reflected through the principal focus.
      • A ray passing through the centre of curvature is reflected back along its own path.
      • A ray passing through the principal focus is reflected parallel to the principal axis.
    • It distinguishes between real images (formed by the intersection of actual rays) and virtual images (formed where rays appear to diverge from).
    • Detailed ray diagrams illustrate the characteristics of the image (real/virtual, inverted/erect, magnified/diminished) for a concave mirror with the object at various positions.
    • For a convex mirror, it is shown that the image is always virtual, erect, and diminished.
  • Magnification and Applications
    • Magnification is defined as the ratio of the image size to the object size.
    • The formula for magnification is given as M = (image height / object height) or (image distance / object distance).
    • Worked examples are provided, using scale drawings to determine the size, position, and nature of images for both concave and convex mirrors.
    • Common applications of curved mirrors are listed, including their use in shaving mirrors, driving mirrors, telescopes, and satellite dishes.

  These notes are comprehensive, neat, and printable, making them an excellent resource for students studying reflection in curved mirrors. They are also highly suitable for teachers to use for lesson preparation, providing clear definitions, detailed ray diagrams, and worked examples to reinforce understanding.

• Length:

  10 pages
• Category:

  Lesson Notes
• Level:

  Form 2
• Subject:

  PHYSICS
• Posted By:

  Caleb_Peter

Enter your details below to initiate a payment using MPESA.