A curved mirror is a reflective surface that has a curved shape, either inward (concave) or outward (convex). It is used to reflect and focus light, creating images and magnifying objects.
The two main types of curved mirrors are concave and convex mirrors. Concave mirrors are curved inward and have a reflecting surface that curves towards the center. Convex mirrors, on the other hand, are curved outward and have a reflecting surface that curves away from the center.
The focal length of a curved mirror can be calculated using the formula ƒ = R/2, where ƒ is the focal length and R is the radius of curvature of the mirror. The radius of curvature is the distance between the center of the mirror and its focal point.
The magnification of an image formed by a curved mirror can be calculated using the formula M = -i/o, where M is the magnification, i is the image distance (distance from the mirror to the image), and o is the object distance (distance from the mirror to the object). A positive magnification indicates an upright image, while a negative magnification indicates an inverted image.
Curved mirrors have many practical applications, such as in telescopes, microscopes, and cameras. They are also used in car side mirrors to give a wider field of view. In addition, they are used in solar power plants to concentrate sunlight and produce electricity. Concave mirrors are also used in reflecting telescopes to gather and focus light from distant objects, while convex mirrors are used in security cameras and in store security systems to provide a wider viewing angle.