2nd Quarter

Week 3: Ray Tracing for Spherical

Mirror and Mirror Equation

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 Module Overview

Dear Learners,

This weekly Activity- Based Learning Unit for Science 10 is an interactive module designed to meet the
needs of the 21st century learners. It is aligned with the competencies of the K-12 Education Curriculum set by
the Department of Education – “to prepare learners to become productive, worthy and competitive young
scientists of the country”.

This week’s module, as stipulated in the curriculum guide, aims to predict the qualitative characteristics
(orientation, type, and magnification) of images formed by plane and curved mirrors and lenses.

At the end of the week’s module, you should be able to answer the following key questions:

• What skills do we develop in making ray diagram?

• How does the location of the object affect the characteristics and location of the image formed in
a concave mirror? Convex mirror?
• What type of mirror do dentists usually use to clearly see the images of our teeth? Why?
• What kind of curved mirror do you see in most of the department stores? Why do they use such
kind of mirror?

“Science is the Topography of Ignorance!”

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 Gen. Vicente Alvarez St., Zamboanga City
Junior High School Unit
Local nos. (062) 991 – 4277, (062) 991 – 1676, Telefax: 992 – 3045

Self-Regulated Learning Unit

Name of Student: _____________________________________ Date: ___________________

Grade and Section: ____________________________________ Score: __________________

Subject Area Science Teacher Jessa Joy M. Khee, LPT

Grade Level 10 Week no. 3
Topic: Ray Tracing for Spherical Mirror and Mirror Equation

I. LEARNING INTENT
At the end of the lesson, you CAN predict the qualitative characteristics (orientation, type, and
magnification) of images formed by plane and curved mirrors and lenses.

What I Need to Know!

II. LEARNING ACTIVITIES
Guided Instruction
Concept Digest: EQ: What skills do we develop in
Ray Tracing for Spherical Mirror making ray diagram?

A curved mirror or spherical mirror is a mirror with a curved reflecting surface. The surface may
be either convex (bulging outward) or concave (recessed inward). When the concave mirror, also known as
converging mirror, is placed very close to the object, a magnified and virtual image is obtained. However, if we
increase the distance between the object and the mirror then the size of the image reduces and a real image is
formed. So, the image formed by the concave mirror can be small or large and it can also be real or virtual. While
a convex mirror, also known as a diverging mirror, a virtual, erect, and diminished images are always formed,
irrespective to the distance between the object and the mirror.

There are four special rays that are convenient to draw in locating the image formed by a spherical
mirror. The intersection of any two of these rays will give us the position of the image.

1. A ray passing through the center of curvature is reflected along itself.

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 2. A ray parallel to the optical axis is reflected through the principal focus as in case of converging
mirrors; or when extended, it appears to come from the principal focus as in case of diverging
mirrors. Broken lines are used to indicate an extended ray.

3. A ray passing through the focus (or which when extended passes through the focus) is reflected
parallel to the optical axis.

4. A ray striking the vertex of the mirror is reflected at an equal angle on the opposite side of the
principal axis.

Let us make a ray diagram for the image formed by a convex mirror. For simplicity, let us choose an
arrow as the object and suppose that this arrow does not extend below the
principal axis. We choose the following rays. Ray A is parallel to the optical
axis and striking the tip of the object. Ray B is passing through the center of
curvature and striking the tip of the object. We need to extend the reflected rays
behind the mirror to find their intersection.

Figure 3 shows that the image formed by a convex mirror is virtual, upright,
and smaller than the object. Broken lines are used to indicate virtual image.

For concave mirror, the characteristics of the image depend Figure

on3.the
distance of the object from the mirror. Let us consider an object located
beyond the center of curvature. We draw two rays striking from the tip of
the object. Ray A is parallel to the optical axis, and Ray B passing through
the center of curvature.

Figure 4 shows the ray diagram for this object. We can see that the image is
real, inverted, and smaller than the object. The image is located between the
center of curvature and the principal axis.
Figure 4.
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 Mirror Equation and Magnification
The position and size of the image formed by mirrors may be determined using ray diagram.
However, the position of the image may be quickly determined using the mirror equation given
below:
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟐
+ = =
𝒅𝒐 𝒅𝒊 𝒇 𝑹
where f = focal length
R = radius of curvature
do = object distance from the vertex of mirror
di = image distance from the vertex of mirror

The focal length as well as the radius of curvature are positive for concave mirrors, negative for convex
mirror. The distance of the image from the vertex of the mirror is positive for a real image, negative for a virtual
image. The distance of the object from the vertex of the mirror is always taken to be positive.

The size of the image relative to the object, termed as magnification and represented by a capital letter
M, can be obtained by getting the absolute value of the ratio of the image distance to the object distance from
the mirror.
𝐬𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝒅𝒊
M = 𝐬𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 = − 𝒅𝒐
If M is equal to 1, the image is the same size as the object. If M is less than 1, the image is smaller than
the object. If M is greater than 1, the image is bigger than the object.

Sample Problem:
An object is placed 20.0cm in front of a concave mirror of radius 50.0cm. (a) What is the focal length of
the mirror? (b) Where is the image located?

GIVEN: R= 50.0 cm ; do = 20.0 cm

SOLUTION:
a. We know that focal length is one-half of the radius of curvature.
𝑅 50.0 𝑐𝑚
f=2= = 𝟐𝟓. 𝟎 𝒄𝒎
2
b. Use the mirror equation and substitute the values.
1 1 1 2
+ = =
𝑑𝑜 𝑑𝑖 𝑓 𝑅
1 1 1
+ =
20.0 𝑐𝑚 𝑑𝑖 25.0 𝑐𝑚
di = - 100.0 cm

Let’s see how much you have learned today!

What I Have Learned!

Checking for Understanding
Directions: Solve the problem below.
1. An object is placed 50.0cm in front of a concave mirror of radius 70.0cm. (a) What is the focal length?
(b) Where is the image formed?

Solution:

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 Learn More by doing the Activity Below!

Let’s Do This!
Guided Practice: Think-Pair-Connect
1. Perform Activity No. 2 entitled “Are you L-O-S-T after Reflection?” found in your Student Activity
Sheet No.5.
2. After performing the activity, connect with your partner to discuss your answers.

What’s More!
Analysis Question(s)
1. How does the location of the object affect the characteristics and location of the image formed in a concave
mirror? Convex mirror? (Refer to the table above).
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
2. What type of mirror do dentists usually use to clearly see the images of our teeth? Why?
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
3. What kind of curved mirror do you see in most of the department stores? Why do they use such kind of
mirror?
__________________________________________________________________________________________

Self-Assess!
Synthesis/Closure:

Assessment!
III. INDEPENDENT PRACTICE
Directions: Solve the following problems below.

1. Given: height of the object; h = 7.00 cm distance of the object; p = 30.0 cm focal point; f = 10.0 cm
Find: distance of the image, q = ? height of the image, h’ = ?
Solution:

2. Given: distance of the image, q = 30.0 cm focal point, f = 15.0 cm

Find: distance of the object, p =?
Solution:

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