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Chapter 2: Problem 30

Why are diverging mirrors often used for rearview mirrors in vehicles? What is the main disadvantage of using

Short Answer

Expert verified
Diverging mirrors (concave mirrors) are often used for rearview mirrors in vehicles due to their ability to create a wider field of view, allowing the driver to see more of what is happening behind the vehicle. This contributes to safe driving and makes it easier to judge distances. The main disadvantage of using a converging mirror (convex mirror) as a rearview mirror is its inability to produce a wide field of view, making it challenging for drivers to stay aware of their surroundings and potentially leading to accidents or other unsafe driving situations.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding diverging mirrors (concave mirrors)

Diverging mirrors, also known as concave mirrors, have a reflective surface that curves outward, away from the incident light. When light reflects off the surface of a diverging mirror, the rays spread apart or diverge, which creates a smaller, virtual, and upright image. This results in a wider field of view and allows the driver to see more of what is happening behind the vehicle.
02

Understanding converging mirrors (convex mirrors)

Converging mirrors, also known as convex mirrors, have a reflective surface that curves inward, towards the incident light. When light reflects off the surface of a convex mirror, the rays converge, which creates a smaller, virtual, and invertest image. This results in a narrower field of view and may not provide enough visibility behind the vehicle for safe driving.
03

Why diverging mirrors are used for rearview mirrors

Diverging mirrors are often used for rearview mirrors in vehicles due to their ability to create a wider field of view. The smaller, virtual, and upright image produced by a diverging mirror allows the driver to see more of what is happening behind the vehicle, ultimately contributing to safe driving. Since diverging mirrors also create a smaller image, objects in the mirror will appear farther away than they actually are, making it easier to judge distances and avoid collisions.
04

The disadvantage of using converging mirrors as rearview mirrors

The main disadvantage of using a converging mirror as a rearview mirror is its inability to produce a wide field of view. The images produced by converging mirrors are smaller and inverted, making them unsuitable for rearview mirrors. This narrow field of vision can make it challenging for drivers to stay aware of their surroundings and could lead to accidents or other unsafe driving situations. Overall, diverging mirrors enhance road safety by offering a wider field of view, allowing drivers to better monitor their surroundings while driving. The reduced field of view provided by converging mirrors makes them unsuitable for use as rearview mirrors in vehicles.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

How far should you hold a 2.1 cm-focal length magnifying glass from an object to obtain a magnification of \(10 \times\) ? Assume you place your eye \(5.0 \mathrm{cm}\) from the magnifying glass.

Two lenses of focal lengths of \(f_{1}\) and \(f_{2}\) are glued together with transparent material of negligible thickness. Show that the total power of the two lenses simply add.

A concave mirror of radius of curvature \(10 \mathrm{cm}\) is placed \(30 \mathrm{cm}\) from a thin convex lens of focal length \(15 \mathrm{cm}\). Find the location and magnification of a small bulb sitting \(50 \mathrm{cm}\) from the lens by using the algebraic method.

Under what circumstances will an image be located at the focal point of a spherical lens or mirror?

(a) Draw rays to form the image of a vertical object on the optical axis and farther than the focal point from a converging lens. (b) Use plane geometry in your figure and prove that the magnification \(m\) is given by $$m=\frac{h_{\mathrm{i}}}{h_{\mathrm{o}}}=-\frac{d_{\mathrm{i}}}{d_{\mathrm{o}}}$$
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