Curved mirrors can be used to focus light through a process called mirror reflection. There are two types of curved mirrors commonly used for this purpose: concave mirrors and convex mirrors.
Concave mirrors: A concave mirror curves inward, creating a surface that is reflective on the inner side. When light rays parallel to the mirror's principal axis (an imaginary line passing through the center of curvature and the focal point) strike a concave mirror, they converge to a single point after reflection. This point is called the focal point, denoted by 'F'. It is located halfway between the center of curvature (C) and the mirror's surface. The distance from the mirror's surface to the focal point is the focal length (f). Concave mirrors are commonly used in applications such as reflecting telescopes and makeup mirrors.
Convex mirrors: A convex mirror curves outward, creating a reflective surface on the outer side. When parallel light rays strike a convex mirror, they diverge or spread out after reflection. The focal point for a convex mirror is located behind the mirror. Convex mirrors are often used in applications where a wider field of view is desired, such as in car side mirrors and security mirrors.
To focus light using curved mirrors, you can position the light source at a specific distance from the mirror's surface. By adjusting the distance between the light source and the mirror, you can control the convergence or divergence of the light rays and manipulate the focus.
In the case of a concave mirror, if you position the object (or light source) beyond the focal point, a real and inverted image will be formed. If you position the object between the focal point and the mirror, a virtual and magnified image will be formed.
It's important to note that the shape, curvature, and positioning of the mirror, as well as the distance between the mirror and the object or light source, play a crucial role in determining the focal point and the characteristics of the focused image.