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To find the instantaneous velocity of an image in a spherical mirror, you need to consider the motion of the object being reflected or observed, as well as the properties of the mirror itself.

The instantaneous velocity of an image formed by a spherical mirror can be determined by considering the change in position of the image with respect to time. Here's a general approach to finding the instantaneous velocity:

  1. Determine the position of the object: Identify the initial and final positions of the object that is being reflected by the spherical mirror. Measure the distance of the object from the mirror along the principal axis.

  2. Analyze the mirror characteristics: Understand the properties of the spherical mirror, specifically its focal length and radius of curvature. The focal length (f) is the distance between the mirror's surface and its focal point, while the radius of curvature (R) is the distance between the center of curvature and the mirror's surface.

  3. Apply mirror formula: Use the mirror formula, which relates the object distance (u), image distance (v), and focal length (f) of the mirror. The formula is given by:

    1/f = 1/v - 1/u

    This formula helps determine the image distance (v) based on the object distance (u) and the focal length of the mirror.

  4. Calculate the time derivative: Differentiate the mirror formula with respect to time (t) to find the rate of change of image distance (v) with respect to time:

    dv/dt = (dv/du) * (du/dt)

    Here, dv/dt represents the instantaneous velocity of the image, and du/dt represents the velocity of the object.

  5. Substitute values and solve: Substitute the known values into the differentiated equation and solve for dv/dt. This will give you the instantaneous velocity of the image in terms of the velocity of the object and the mirror parameters.

It's important to note that the above steps provide a general approach, but the specific calculations may vary depending on the type of spherical mirror (concave or convex) and the exact scenario being considered.

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