Concave Mirror Optics Simulation
Interactive demonstration of image formation by concave mirrors
Mirror Parameters
18 cm
2.5 cm
27 cm
Display Options
Live Calculations
27 cm
-54 cm
18 cm
-2.0
Real, Inverted, Magnified
Key Formulas:
1/f = 1/u + 1/v (Mirror Formula)
m = -v/u = h'/h (Magnification)
Understanding Concave Mirrors
Sign Conventions
- Object distance (u): Always positive
- Focal length (f): Positive for concave mirrors
- Image distance (v): Negative for real images
- Magnification (m): Negative for inverted images
Image Types
- Real: Can be projected on screen (v < 0)
- Virtual: Cannot be projected (v > 0)
- Inverted: Upside down (m < 0)
- Upright: Same orientation (m > 0)
