PHYS 102 Lecture Notes - Lecture 26: Curved Mirror, Geometrical Optics, Real Image
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Document Summary
Light is a travelling wave that carries oscillations in the amplitude of electric and magnetic field through space with time. In geometric optics we model the passage of these fronts as a collection of straight line rays. In geometrical optics, reflection works such that a ray of light incident at angle theta relative to normal of a locally flat mirror surface will reflect away at the same angle. Concave mirrors can focus light and parallel light rays incident near the center reflect through a focal point at a distance called the focal length from the mirror. Concave mirrors have a focus (point where parallel light will focus) Length of focus from mirror is called focal length. Convex mirrors defocus light, and parallel rays diverge such that when extrapolated back, they appear to emanate from a focus whose distance behind the mirror defines their focal length.