THE PRACTICE STUDIO

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PRACTICE · MEMBERSIntermediate · Single correct

PRACTICE / Spherical mirrors

Read the sign of a virtual image

An object is 10 cm in front of a concave spherical mirror of focal length 15 cm. Use the real-positive convention: real object and real image distances are positive.

Find the signed image distance.

Organize the givens & assumptions
  • Real object distance: +10 cm
  • Concave mirror focal length: +15 cm
  • Real-positive distance convention

Paraxial rays and ideal spherical mirror. Negative image distance means a virtual image behind the mirror in this convention.

  1. A+30 cm+30\ \mathrm{cm}
  2. B+6 cm+6\ \mathrm{cm}
  3. C−6 cm-6\ \mathrm{cm}
  4. D−30 cm-30\ \mathrm{cm}

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