AP Physics 2 Flashcards: Images Formed By Mirrors

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on Images Formed By Mirrors, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for AP Physics 2.

How to use these flashcards

Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: Determine the image nature when $d_i$ is negative.

Answer: Image is virtual. Negative image distance indicates virtual image behind mirror.

Flashcard 2: Determine the magnification for a plane mirror.

Answer: Magnification $m = 1$. Plane mirrors always create same-size images with unit magnification.

Flashcard 3: Calculate the magnification if $d_o = 10 \text{ cm}$ and $d_i = -5 \text{ cm}$.

Answer: $m = 0.5$. Using $m = -\frac{d_i}{d_o} = -\frac{-5}{10} = 0.5$.

Flashcard 4: What is the radius of curvature for a plane mirror?

Answer: $R = \infty$ (infinite). Plane mirrors have no curvature, so radius is infinite.

Flashcard 5: Identify the image properties when an object is at the focal point of a concave mirror.

Answer: No image is formed; rays are parallel. At focal point, reflected rays become parallel and never converge.

Flashcard 6: Identify the image properties when an object is at the focal point of a concave mirror.

Answer: No image is formed; rays are parallel. At focal point, reflected rays become parallel and never converge.

Flashcard 7: Identify the mirror property used in makeup mirrors.

Answer: Concave mirror for magnification. Concave mirrors can magnify when object is within focal length.

Flashcard 8: What image characteristic is constant for plane mirrors?

Answer: Image is always virtual. Plane mirrors cannot form real images due to flat surface.

Flashcard 9: What is the focal length of a plane mirror?

Answer: $f = \infty$ (infinite). Plane surfaces don't converge or diverge rays, so no focal point exists.

Flashcard 10: Identify the image property when $h_i = h_o$ in any mirror.

Answer: Image is the same size as the object. When $h_i = h_o$, magnification equals 1, indicating same size.

Flashcard 11: Calculate the magnification if $d_o = 10 \text{ cm}$ and $d_i = -5 \text{ cm}$.

Answer: $m = 0.5$. Using $m = -\frac{d_i}{d_o} = -\frac{-5}{10} = 0.5$.

Flashcard 12: What image characteristic is constant for plane mirrors?

Answer: Image is always virtual. Plane mirrors cannot form real images due to flat surface.

Flashcard 13: What is the focal point of a mirror?

Answer: The point where parallel rays converge or appear to diverge. Defines where parallel incident rays meet after reflection.

Flashcard 14: What is the image orientation for a plane mirror?

Answer: Upright. Plane mirrors always produce upright, non-inverted images.

Flashcard 15: Calculate the image distance if $d_o = 25 \text{ cm}$ and $f = 10 \text{ cm}$ for a concave mirror.

Answer: $d_i = 16.67 \text{ cm}$. Using $\frac{1}{10} = \frac{1}{25} + \frac{1}{d_i}$ gives $d_i = 16.67$ cm.

Flashcard 16: What does a negative magnification indicate?

Answer: Image is inverted. Negative magnification means image is flipped relative to object.

Flashcard 17: What type of image does a convex mirror always produce?

Answer: Virtual, upright, and reduced in size. Convex mirrors diverge light rays, preventing real image formation.

Flashcard 18: State the image characteristics for an object at the focal point in a convex mirror.

Answer: Virtual, upright, reduced. Convex mirrors always produce diminished virtual images regardless of position.

Flashcard 19: What is the magnification formula for mirrors?

Answer: Magnification $m = \frac{h_i}{h_o} = -\frac{d_i}{d_o}$. Negative sign accounts for real vs virtual image distinction.

Flashcard 20: Find the image properties when an object is at twice the focal length of a concave mirror.

Answer: Real, inverted, same size. At twice focal length, object and image are same size.

Flashcard 21: What type of image is formed by a plane mirror?

Answer: Virtual, upright, and the same size as the object. Plane mirrors reflect light at equal angles, creating laterally inverted images.

Flashcard 22: Identify the mirror type if it forms only virtual images.

Answer: Convex mirror. Convex mirrors diverge rays, making real image formation impossible.

Flashcard 23: Determine the image nature when $d_i$ is negative.

Answer: Image is virtual. Negative image distance indicates virtual image behind mirror.

Flashcard 24: State the image location for an object at infinity in a concave mirror.

Answer: At the focal point. Parallel rays from infinity converge at the focal point.

Flashcard 25: Identify the mirror type used in rearview mirrors.

Answer: Convex mirror. Convex mirrors provide wide field of view for safety.

Flashcard 26: Calculate the focal length if $R = 20 \text{ cm}$.

Answer: $f = 10 \text{ cm}$. Using $f = \frac{R}{2} = \frac{20}{2} = 10$ cm.

Flashcard 27: State the mirror equation.

Answer: $\frac{1}{f} = \frac{1}{d_o} + \frac{1}{d_i}$. Fundamental equation relating focal length to object and image distances.

Flashcard 28: What is the image nature if $d_i$ is positive?

Answer: Image is real. Positive image distance means light actually converges there.

Flashcard 29: Calculate $d_i$ if $d_o = 40 \text{ cm}$ and $f = 20 \text{ cm}$ for a concave mirror.

Answer: $d_i = 40 \text{ cm}$. Using $\frac{1}{20} = \frac{1}{40} + \frac{1}{d_i}$ gives $d_i = 40$ cm.

Flashcard 30: Find the image distance for a concave mirror if $d_o = 30 \text{ cm}$ and $f = 15 \text{ cm}$.

Answer: $d_i = 30 \text{ cm}$. Using mirror equation: $\frac{1}{15} = \frac{1}{30} + \frac{1}{d_i}$.

Flashcard 31: What happens to the image when the object is at the center of curvature in a concave mirror?

Answer: Image is real, inverted, and same size. At center of curvature, object and image distances equal $2f$.

Flashcard 32: Identify the image nature when an object is between the focal point and mirror in a concave mirror.

Answer: Virtual, upright, and enlarged. Object closer than focal point creates magnified virtual image.

Flashcard 33: What does a negative magnification indicate?

Answer: Image is inverted. Negative magnification means image is flipped relative to object.

Flashcard 34: Identify the image property when $h_i = h_o$ in any mirror.

Answer: Image is the same size as the object. When $h_i = h_o$, magnification equals 1, indicating same size.

Flashcard 35: State the image characteristics for an object at the focal point in a convex mirror.

Answer: Virtual, upright, reduced. Convex mirrors always produce diminished virtual images regardless of position.

Flashcard 36: Identify the mirror type that can form a full-length image of a person.

Answer: Plane mirror. Plane mirrors create life-size images suitable for full body viewing.

Flashcard 37: What is the focal point of a mirror?

Answer: The point where parallel rays converge or appear to diverge. Defines where parallel incident rays meet after reflection.

Flashcard 38: Which mirror type can converge parallel rays?

Answer: Concave mirror. Concave mirrors have positive focal lengths and converge light.

Flashcard 39: Find the image distance for a concave mirror if $d_o = 30 \text{ cm}$ and $f = 15 \text{ cm}$.

Answer: $d_i = 30 \text{ cm}$. Using mirror equation: $\frac{1}{15} = \frac{1}{30} + \frac{1}{d_i}$.

Flashcard 40: Calculate the focal length if $R = 20 \text{ cm}$.

Answer: $f = 10 \text{ cm}$. Using $f = \frac{R}{2} = \frac{20}{2} = 10$ cm.

Flashcard 41: State the formula for calculating image height.

Answer: $h_i = m \times h_o$. Image height equals magnification times object height.

Flashcard 42: Determine $h_i$ if $h_o = 4 \text{ cm}$ and $m = 2$.

Answer: $h_i = 8 \text{ cm}$. Using $h_i = m \times h_o = 2 \times 4 = 8$ cm.

Flashcard 43: State the formula for calculating image height.

Answer: $h_i = m \times h_o$. Image height equals magnification times object height.

Flashcard 44: What happens to the image when $d_o = f$ in a concave mirror?

Answer: No image is formed. At focal point, reflected rays become parallel with no convergence.

Flashcard 45: Identify the image nature when an object is between the focal point and mirror in a concave mirror.

Answer: Virtual, upright, and enlarged. Object closer than focal point creates magnified virtual image.

Flashcard 46: State the sign convention for object distance in mirrors.

Answer: Positive if object is in front of mirror. Objects in front of mirrors have positive distances by convention.

Flashcard 47: Determine the magnification for a plane mirror.

Answer: Magnification $m = 1$. Plane mirrors always create same-size images with unit magnification.

Flashcard 48: Find the radius of curvature relation with focal length.

Answer: $R = 2f$. Radius is twice the focal length for spherical mirrors.

Flashcard 49: What is the image nature if $d_i$ is positive?

Answer: Image is real. Positive image distance means light actually converges there.

Flashcard 50: State the relationship between magnification and object distance.

Answer: $m = -\frac{d_i}{d_o}$. Magnification equals negative ratio of image to object distance.

Flashcard 51: What is the magnification formula for mirrors?

Answer: Magnification $m = \frac{h_i}{h_o} = -\frac{d_i}{d_o}$. Negative sign accounts for real vs virtual image distinction.

Flashcard 52: State the relationship between magnification and object distance.

Answer: $m = -\frac{d_i}{d_o}$. Magnification equals negative ratio of image to object distance.

Flashcard 53: What is the focal length of a plane mirror?

Answer: $f = \infty$ (infinite). Plane surfaces don't converge or diverge rays, so no focal point exists.

Flashcard 54: State the sign convention for object distance in mirrors.

Answer: Positive if object is in front of mirror. Objects in front of mirrors have positive distances by convention.

Flashcard 55: What type of image is formed by a plane mirror?

Answer: Virtual, upright, and the same size as the object. Plane mirrors reflect light at equal angles, creating laterally inverted images.

Flashcard 56: Calculate $d_i$ if $d_o = 40 \text{ cm}$ and $f = 20 \text{ cm}$ for a concave mirror.

Answer: $d_i = 40 \text{ cm}$. Using $\frac{1}{20} = \frac{1}{40} + \frac{1}{d_i}$ gives $d_i = 40$ cm.

Flashcard 57: What type of mirror is used for security and surveillance?

Answer: Convex mirror. Wide field of view helps monitor large areas effectively.

Flashcard 58: Identify the mirror type that can form a full-length image of a person.

Answer: Plane mirror. Plane mirrors create life-size images suitable for full body viewing.

Flashcard 59: Calculate the image distance if $d_o = 25 \text{ cm}$ and $f = 10 \text{ cm}$ for a concave mirror.

Answer: $d_i = 16.67 \text{ cm}$. Using $\frac{1}{10} = \frac{1}{25} + \frac{1}{d_i}$ gives $d_i = 16.67$ cm.

Flashcard 60: Determine $h_i$ if $h_o = 4 \text{ cm}$ and $m = 2$.

Answer: $h_i = 8 \text{ cm}$. Using $h_i = m \times h_o = 2 \times 4 = 8$ cm.

Flashcard 61: What happens to the image when the object is at the center of curvature in a concave mirror?

Answer: Image is real, inverted, and same size. At center of curvature, object and image distances equal $2f$.

Flashcard 62: Determine the image location for an object beyond the center of curvature in a concave mirror.

Answer: Between the focal point and the center of curvature. Real image forms between $f$ and center when object is beyond center.

Flashcard 63: Identify the mirror type used in rearview mirrors.

Answer: Convex mirror. Convex mirrors provide wide field of view for safety.

Flashcard 64: What type of mirror is used for security and surveillance?

Answer: Convex mirror. Wide field of view helps monitor large areas effectively.

Flashcard 65: Find the radius of curvature relation with focal length.

Answer: $R = 2f$. Radius is twice the focal length for spherical mirrors.

Flashcard 66: What is the radius of curvature for a plane mirror?

Answer: $R = \infty$ (infinite). Plane mirrors have no curvature, so radius is infinite.

Flashcard 67: Which mirror type can converge parallel rays?

Answer: Concave mirror. Concave mirrors have positive focal lengths and converge light.

Flashcard 68: What type of image does a convex mirror always produce?

Answer: Virtual, upright, and reduced in size. Convex mirrors diverge light rays, preventing real image formation.

Flashcard 69: Find the image properties when an object is at twice the focal length of a concave mirror.

Answer: Real, inverted, same size. At twice focal length, object and image are same size.

Flashcard 70: Identify the mirror property used in makeup mirrors.

Answer: Concave mirror for magnification. Concave mirrors can magnify when object is within focal length.

Flashcard 71: State the image location for an object at infinity in a concave mirror.

Answer: At the focal point. Parallel rays from infinity converge at the focal point.

Flashcard 72: Identify the mirror type if it forms only virtual images.

Answer: Convex mirror. Convex mirrors diverge rays, making real image formation impossible.

Flashcard 73: Determine the image location for an object beyond the center of curvature in a concave mirror.

Answer: Between the focal point and the center of curvature. Real image forms between $f$ and center when object is beyond center.

Flashcard 74: What happens to the image when $d_o = f$ in a concave mirror?

Answer: No image is formed. At focal point, reflected rays become parallel with no convergence.

Flashcard 75: State the mirror equation.

Answer: $\frac{1}{f} = \frac{1}{d_o} + \frac{1}{d_i}$. Fundamental equation relating focal length to object and image distances.