Plane Mirror vs Spherical Mirror
A plane mirror is a flat mirror, meaning its surface is flat and reflects light without distorting the image. It reflects light according to the law of reflection, which states that the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.
Spherical mirror has a curved surface, either concave (curves inward) or convex (curves outward). Spherical mirrors are named as such because their reflecting surface forms a part of a sphere. The reflection of light from a spherical mirror follows more complex rules compared to a plane mirror, involving the focal point, focal length, and different image formations based on the position of the object.
|
Features |
Plane Mirror |
Spherical Mirror |
|---|---|---|
|
Shape |
Flat surface |
Curved surface |
|
Reflection |
Reflects light rays in a predictable manner |
Reflects light rays in a curved manner |
|
Focal Point |
Does not have a focal point |
Has a focal point where parallel rays converge |
|
Image Formation |
Produces virtual, upright, and laterally inverted images |
Produces both real and virtual images, depending on the object’s position in the mirror |
|
Field of View |
Reflects light from all directions uniformly |
Reflects light from a specific region of space |
|
Applications |
Used in regular mirrors, periscopes, and rear-view mirrors |
Used in telescopes, makeup mirrors, and reflectors |
|
Image Quality |
Reflections are undistorted and of uniform intensity |
Reflections may suffer from spherical aberration and distortion near the edges |
Plane Mirror
A plane mirror is a type of mirror that has a flat, reflective surface. It reflects light rays in a predictable manner. Plane mirror is generally used as dressing mirror. It forms a virtual and erect image. The size of the image is formed is same as that of object. In this article, we will learn in detail about the plane mirror, image formation by plane mirrors and its characteristics. We will also learn about the applications of plane mirror and compare it with spherical mirror, parabolic mirror and elliptical mirror.
Table of Content
- What is Plane Mirror?
- Light Reflection in Plane Mirrors
- Images Formation by Plane Mirrors
- Ray Diagram for Plane Mirror
- Mirror Equation for Plane Mirror
- Uses of Plane Mirrors