Question

In which of the following cases a man will not see image greater than himself. (A) convex mirror (B) concave mirror (C) plane mirror (D) none of these

Short answer

In a convex mirror (Option A), a man will not see an image greater than himself, as the images formed are always virtual, upright, and smaller than the object.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding convex mirrors

A convex mirror is a curved mirror with the reflecting surface bulging outward. Images formed in convex mirrors are always virtual, upright, and smaller than the object.

Understanding concave mirrors

A concave mirror is a curved mirror with the reflecting surface curving inward. Images formed in concave mirrors can be real or virtual, and their size (magnified or diminished) depends on the object's location relative to the mirror's focal point.

Understanding plane mirrors

A plane mirror is a flat mirror, and the images formed are always virtual, upright, and the same size as the object.

Comparing image sizes in different mirrors

By analyzing the properties of each type of mirror, we can deduce the following: - Convex mirror: The image is always smaller than the object. - Concave mirror: The image size depends on the object's location. It can be larger, smaller, or equal to the object size. - Plane mirror: The image size is always equal to the object size.

Identifying the correct answer

From our analysis, we can conclude that in the case of a convex mirror (Option A), a man will not see an image greater than himself. The image will always be smaller and upright.

Key concepts

Convex Mirror

Convex mirrors are unique in their structure and the images they produce. These mirrors have a curved surface that bulges outward, similar to the exterior of a sphere. A key characteristic of convex mirrors is that they always form images that are virtual, meaning the image cannot be projected on a screen because it appears to be located inside the mirror.

Importantly, the size of the image produced by a convex mirror is always smaller than the object. This shrinking effect happens because light rays that reflect off a convex mirror spread out, making the rays appear as if they are coming from a smaller version of the object behind the mirror. Due to this property, convex mirrors are often used in situations where a wide field of view is necessary, such as in vehicle side mirrors and hallway security mirrors.

In the context of our problem, the mirror will not create an image greater than the man standing in front of it. This is why the convex mirror is the correct answer when asked which type of mirror could never make an image larger than the object.

Concave Mirror

Concave mirrors, on the other hand, have an inwardly curved surface, resembling the inside of a sphere. This mirror structure allows concave mirrors to focus light to a point, which is why they are sometimes called 'converging mirrors'.

The nature of the image produced by a concave mirror depends on the object's position in relation to the mirror's focal point—the point where light rays that travel parallel to the principal axis converge after reflection. If an object is positioned beyond the focal point, the mirror will produce a real and inverted image that can either be larger or smaller than the object depending on the object's exact distance from the focal length. Conversely, if the object is between the focal point and the mirror, the image is virtual, upright, and magnified.

Due to their ability to magnify, concave mirrors are used in applications like make-up or shaving mirrors and telescopes. In relation to the exercise, a concave mirror can produce an image larger than the object, depending on the object’s location relative to the focal point.

Plane Mirror

Plane mirrors are the simplest type of mirror, with a flat reflective surface. These mirrors create images that are virtual, meaning that the image will appear to be inside or behind the mirror. A vital feature of plane mirrors is that the images they create are of the same size as the object, upright, and reversed left-to-right.

The image formed by a plane mirror is perceived as being the same distance behind the mirror as the object is in front of it. This property makes plane mirrors ideal for domestic use, such as in household bathroom mirrors. They allow us to see our reflection with all its characteristics in proper proportion and geometry.

Unlike concave or convex mirrors, the maximum image size that a plane mirror can create is always equal to the size of the object itself. This means in our context, a plane mirror would neither magnify nor reduce the size of a man's image; it will always remain consistent with the object in size.