Draw ray diagrams to show the nature, position and relative size of the image formed by a convex mirror when the object is placed (i) at infinity and (ii) between infinity and pole P of the mirror.
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-15 06:48 · grounding rag
Model Answer
Ray Diagrams for Convex Mirror:
(i) Object at infinity:
```
Parallel rays
───────────────────────►|
───────────────────────►| F P
|← →←→
```
Reflected rays appear to diverge from focus F behind the mirror.
- Position of image: At focus F, behind the mirror
- Size: Highly diminished, point-sized
- Nature: Virtual and erect
(ii) Object between infinity and pole P:
```
Object (AB)
A |
|────────────────────────| P
| F
```
Reflected rays diverge and appear to meet behind the mirror between P and F.
- Position of image: Between P and F, behind the mirror
- Size: Diminished
- Nature: Virtual and erect
(In both cases, use: (a) ray parallel to principal axis — reflects as if coming from F; (b) ray directed towards centre of curvature C — reflects back along same path.)
Source: Chapter 9, Section 9.2.2 and Table 9.2
---
Explanation
- Examiners expect two labelled diagrams with at least two rays shown for each case. Since diagrams cannot be drawn here in text, describe them clearly and label P, F, C, principal axis, object, and image.
- The key result from Table 9.2 must be stated: image is always virtual, erect, and diminished for a convex mirror.
- For 3 marks: 1 mark per diagram + nature/position/size for each case. Don't skip the image characteristics — that is where marks are awarded.