A convex mirror, fish eye mirror or diverging mirror, is a curved mirror in which the reflective surface bulges toward the light source. Convex mirrors reflect light outwards, therefore they are not used to focus light. Such mirrors always form a virtual image, since the focus (F) and the centre of curvature (2F) are both imaginary points "inside" the mirror, which cannot be reached. As a result, images formed by these mirrors cannot be projected on a screen, since the image is inside the mirror.
A collimated (parallel) beam of light diverges (spreads out) after reflection from a convex mirror, since the normal to the surface differs with each spot on the mirror.
Read more about Convex Mirror: Concave Mirrors, Mirror Shape
Famous quotes containing the word mirror:
“When Walser first put on his make-up, he looked in the mirror and did not recognise himself ... he experienced the freedom that lies behind the mask, within dissimulation.”
—Angela Carter (1940–1992)