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Uses of Concave Mirror - Definition, Application and Examples

Uses of Concave Mirror - Definition, Application and Examples

Edited By Team Careers360 | Updated on Aug 10, 2022 05:11 PM IST

A mirror is a piece of material that reflects light. A concave mirror is a spherical mirror with a reflecting surface curved inwards. In concave mirrors, incoming light beams are reflected and focused (parallel) to a point called the focus point. Different kinds of images are produced depending on the distance between an object and the reflecting surface. Because light beams converge after reflection at concave mirrors. That's why a concave mirror is called a converging mirror.

concave-mirror-focus

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What are the uses of concave mirrors or the application of concave mirrors?

  1. Reflecting Telescopes: In observational astronomy, concave mirrors are used in various reflecting telescopes. The light coming from distant celestial objects is collected by the concave mirror and focused at the focal point. The intensity of the light increases because of the convergence of the light beam. The reflection of distant celestial objects is then visible through the eyepiece.
  2. Uses of concave mirrors in Microscopes: A concave mirror is used as a condenser at the base of a microscope. Only the specimen is lighted by the concave mirror, thereby ensuring that the surrounding area is dark. The mirror can be rotated to change its orientation. Through an eyepiece, the specimen is visible.
  3. Uses of concave mirrors in Headlights and Torches: the bulb of a headlight or a torch is placed at the concave mirror focal point. In the Headlights and Torches, light beam after being reflected through a concave mirror emerges as parallel light rays. These reflected rays can travel long distances and have a high intensity.
  4. Concave mirrors are used in medical tools such as the ophthalmoscope (which is used to check the status of the eyes), the Otoscope (which is used to look inside the ears), and many more. Concave mirrors are often used by ENT doctors in simple diagnostic equipment such as head mirrors. The setup is used to provide proper illumination in the inspecting areas, thus avoiding shadows.
  5. Dental mirrors: Concave mirrors were used by dentists to get a clearer view inside the mouth.
  6. Uses of concave mirrors in solar furnaces: Solar furnaces consist of concave mirrors to focus sunlight at a particular point. The concave mirror collects a large amount of light and focuses it on the focal point. Heating, cooking, generating electricity, and melting metals all uses concentrated energy.

Uses of concave and convex mirrors class 10 or Uses of the concave mirror in daily life

Uses of concave mirrors are following:

  1. Concave mirrors are used in the Vehicles headlights
  2. Concave mirror is used in the Shaving mirrors
  3. Concave mirrors are used in the Solar furnaces
  4. Concave mirrors are used in the Searchlights
  5. Concave mirrors are used in the Torches
  6. Concave mirrors are used in the Flashlights
  7. Concave mirror is used in the Dental Mirrors
  8. Concave mirrors are used in the Microscopes
  9. Concave mirrors are used in the Telescopes
  10. Concave mirror is used in the Makeup mirrors

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Why a concave mirror is called a converging mirror?

When parallel beams of light fall on the concave mirror it converges the light beam at a point called the focus. That's why a concave mirror is called a converging mirror.

Write the uses of convex mirror

Uses of convex mirrors are following:

  1. Convex Mirror is used as a rearview mirror in vehicles to see the traffic at the rear side.
  2. Large Convex Mirrors are used as shop security mirrors.

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NCERT Physics Notes:

Frequently Asked Question (FAQs)

1. Write any two uses of a concave mirror.

 Two uses of the concave mirror:

  1. concave mirrors are used in the Vehicles headlights

  2. concave mirror is used in the Shaving mirrors

2. Why concave mirror is used in a torch?

Concave mirrors are used in the Flashlights and torches. The bulb of a headlight or a torch is placed at the concave mirror focal point. In the Headlights and Torches, light beam after being reflected through a concave mirror emerges as parallel light rays. These reflected rays can travel long distances and have a high intensity.

3. Mention the uses of a concave mirror.

Concave mirrors are used in a variety of applications, including searchlights, shaving mirrors, dental mirrors, satellite dishes, and more. The collimation and concentration of light rays is a property of the concave mirrors. Concave mirrors are used as a light beam Reflector in the torches and headlights. The light source is positioned at the focal point of a concave mirror, causing the light rays to emerge as parallel beams after reflection in the mirror.

4. What is the importance of concave and convex mirrors?

Because they spread light across a larger region, convex mirrors are used as streetlight reflectors. Concave mirrors are used for a variety of purposes, including providing a powerful parallel beam of light; a concave mirror is used as a reflector in torches, searchlights, and car headlights, and among other things.

5. Write any two uses of the convex mirror.

Uses of convex mirrors are following: 
1. Convex Mirror is used as a rearview mirror in vehicles to see the traffic at the rear side.
2. Large Convex Mirrors are used as shop security mirrors.

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