Page 163 - Physics_Form_2

Nature and reflection of light
Uses of curved mirrors
Curved mirrors have various applications in
our daily lives. Depending on the purpose,
some applications utilise concave mirrors
while others utilise convex mirrors.
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Uses of convex mirrors
Convex mirrors provide a wide field
of view compared to other mirrors,
forming diminished images. Therefore,
they are used when a broad field of view
is preferred over the size of the image.
The following are some applications of
convex mirrors:
Convex mirrors are used as side mirrors
for cars. This allows the driver to gain a
wide angle rear view, as shown in Figure
4.33. However, these mirrors have the
disadvantage of making objects appear
farther away than they actually are.
This occurs because the image is always
formed between the mirror and the focal
point of the mirror, regardless of the
object’s distance. Hence, images appear
small, and the brain interprets smaller
images as farther away.
Figure 4.33: A side mirror of a car
Physics Form 2 Final.indd 157
Reflecting light in streetlights: A convex
mirror is a reflector in street lamps. Due
to the wide view offered by the diverging
mirror, light from the lamp spreads over
a larger area. Figure 4.34 illustrates light
diverging from the streetlights.
Figure 4.34: Divergence of light
from a streetlight
Seeing around corners: Convex mirrors
are placed at road junctions and the
corners of places like parking lots and
supermarkets. This enables people to see
around the corners to avoid collisions
between vehicles or supermarket trolleys.
Figure 4 .35 shows a convex mirror used
as a safety mirror at a road junction.
Figure 4.35: A safety convex mirror
around a corner
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