A classmate draws the following ray diagram for an object placed between the focal…
PHYSICS · Single correct · CBSE · Physics · Light — Reflection and Refraction · Light — Reflection and Refraction
Problem
A classmate draws the following ray diagram for an object placed between the focal point F and a concave spherical mirror:
1. He draws a ray from the top of the object traveling parallel to the principal axis and reflects it through F.
2. He draws a second ray through the center of curvature C and reflects it back on itself.
3. He marks the intersection of the two reflected rays in front of the mirror and labels that point the image.
Which of the following statements best identifies and corrects a fundamental error in this construction?
(a) The ray drawn through C should actually pass through F after reflection because C lies on the reflecting surface only for plane mirrors.
(b) No error is present; the procedure and the resulting real image location are both correct for an object located between F and the mirror.
(c) The two reflected rays should never intersect in front of the mirror when the object is between F and the mirror; they must be extended backward to locate a virtual image behind the mirror.
(d) The ray drawn parallel to the principal axis should reflect back parallel after first passing through F, so the intersection point ought to be at 2F instead of at C.