Question

Why are diverging mirrors often used for rear-view mirrors in vehicles? What is the main disadvantage of using such a mirror compared with a flat one?

Short answer

The benefit of a diverging mirror is that it has a larger field of vision, but the downside is that the item seems to be far away.

Step-by-step solution

Define Geometric Optics

Geometrical optics, often known as ray optics, is an optics model that describes light propagation using rays. In geometric optics, a ray is an abstraction that can be used to approximate the routes along which light propagates under particular conditions.

Explanation

Diverging mirrors are used because they provide a larger field of vision.

The biggest downside is that objects may look smaller than they actually are, making them appear far away.

Therefore, the advantage is that diverging mirrors have a wider field of view, and the disadvantage is that the object views far away.