Uses of Concave Mirror: Applications & Properties

Concave mirror is a converging mirror that has a reflecting surface curved inwards. A convex mirror, on the other hand, is one in which the reflecting surface of a spherical mirror is curved outwards. Concave and convex mirrors are a form of spherical mirrors. Light beams in concave mirrors reflect and focus the beams of light at a focus point. Varying the distance between an object and the surface produces different images. Concave mirrors are used to guide the airplane at the time of its landing. It is used to reflect the rays of light. A concave mirror is also used while shaving to get an enlarged and erect image of the face.

Key Terms: Concave Mirror, Convex Mirror, Light beams, Focus point, spherical mirror, real images, Focus light, reflecting surface

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What is a Concave Mirror?

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A concave mirror is a spherical mirror with a dented inward reflecting surface. Incoming light beams are reflected and focused (parallel) to a point called the focus point using concave mirrors.

• As light beams converge after reflection in concave mirrors, they are also known as converging mirrors.
• Concave mirrors reflect light inward to one focal length. Hence, concave mirrors are mostly used to focus light.
• It collects the light and refocuses the incoming rays at the focus point.
• Concave mirrors are used in vehicles' headlights, shaving mirrors, solar furnaces, searchlights, torches, makeup mirrors, etc.

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Uses Of Concave Mirror

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There are a wide variety of uses of concave mirrors. Most of the uses are witnessed in our daily lives. Some concave mirror uses are:

• Head mirrors
• Ophthalmoscope
• Headlights
• Shaving mirrors
• Astronomical telescopes
• Solar furnaces

The uses of concave mirrors are as follows:

Concave Mirror in Headlights

When a headlight, torch, flashlight, or searchlight is put in front of a concave mirror, the light rays from the bulb are reflected by the concave mirror and appear as parallel beams. These reflected beams have a higher intensity and cover a greater region. Concave mirrors are ideal for headlights, torch lights, spotlights, and searchlights for this purpose.

In Dental Mirrors

Concave mirrors are used as dental mirrors. Dentists can view the interior of the mouth or teeth better using concave mirrors.

Use of Concave Mirror in Ophthalmoscope

Optical devices such as ophthalmoscopes utilize concave mirrors. A concave mirror with a hole in the center is used as an ophthalmoscope. While a light beam is directed into the pupil of the patient's eye, the doctor focuses via the small hole from behind the concave mirror. This makes the retina visible and easier for physicians to examine the same.

In Solar Furnaces

Concave mirrors are used to absorb the sunlight at the focus point. In the solar furnace, heat is produced by absorbing sunlight. This principle of focused heat energy is used for cooking and heating purposes.

Use of Concave Mirror in Telescopes

In observational astronomy, concave mirrors are used in reflecting telescopes. The light from distant celestial objects is captured by the concave mirror in a reflecting mirror. The entering light beams are essentially parallel due to the great distance between the light sources. The light beams are focused on a flat mirror that is held at its focal distance by the concave mirror. The intensity of the light (incident on the flat mirror) rises as a result of the convergence. The flat mirror's reflection is then viewed through the eyepiece.

Concave Mirrors In Microscopes

As a condenser, a concave mirror is used in the base of a microscope. After passing through the mirror, light from an external source is shone on the specimen. The concave mirror solely focuses light on the specimen in order to keep the surroundings dark. The mirror's orientation may be adjusted by turning it. An eyepiece is used to see the specimen.

In Shaving Mirror & Makeup Mirror

Concave mirrors are used as shaving and makeup mirrors because of their reflecting and curved surfaces. The concave shaving mirror enlarges and generates an erect picture when held closer to the face.

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Properties Of Concave Mirrors

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The properties of concave mirrors are given below:

• Concave mirrors can produce both real and virtual images.
• They will become upright if they are producing a virtual image.
• The mirror will be inverted if it is producing a real image.
• Based on the distance between the object and the mirror, the image of the object can be downsized, enlarged, or the same size as the object

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Image Formation by Concave Mirror

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The size and nature of the image on the mirror can be deduced when the object is placed at different positions. The observations are tabulated below.

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Things to Remember 

• A concave mirror is a spherical mirror with a dented inward reflecting surface. It is also called a converging mirror.
• Concave mirrors are used in satellite dishes and optical bomb detectors.
• In searchlights, concave mirrors are used as reflectors.
• Concave mirrors help to create focused beams that are clearly seen across long distances.
• Concave mirrors may focus light from far away, but the edges of the mirror concentrate the beams to a position that is somewhat off from the original focal point. 

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