Always small, always upright

The idea

A convex mirror always forms an erect image smaller than the object (diminished), and the image becomes slightly smaller as the object moves away.

A tiny Meena

At another mirror, Meena saw a tiny version of herself. A convex mirror can do this. Now picture her walking slowly away from a convex mirror.

Will her image ever turn upside down?

• No. It stays upright
• Yes, once she is far enough
• Yes, as soon as she moves

Move the object away

Start very close to the convex mirror. Move the object farther, one step at a time. Compare the image with the object.

Always erect, always diminished

A convex mirror always forms an erect image that is smaller than the object (diminished). The image becomes slightly smaller as the object moves away.

Side-view mirrors of vehicles are convex. They always show an erect, smaller image of the traffic behind, and a much wider area of the road. Convex mirrors are also put up at sharp bends and road crossings, and in big stores to watch a large area.

• Object | Image in a convex mirror
• Close to the mirror | Erect, diminished
• Far away | Erect, diminished, a little smaller

Notes

A convex mirror always forms an erect, diminished image. It becomes slightly smaller as the object moves away.

Check yourself

How is the image in a convex mirror?

A car drives away from a convex mirror. What happens to its image?

Why are the side-view mirrors of vehicles convex?

Convex mirrors are put up at sharp bends on roads. How do they help?

• Inverted when the object is far. That is a concave mirror. A convex mirror's image is always erect.
• Always erect and diminished — correct. Yes. Near or far, it is upright and smaller than the object.
• Erect and enlarged when the object is close. A concave mirror enlarges a close object. A convex mirror's image is always smaller.
• It turns upside down. A convex mirror's image is always erect.
• It stays erect and becomes slightly smaller — correct. Yes. The image shrinks a little as the car moves away.
• It becomes bigger. The image becomes slightly smaller as the object moves away.
• They always give an erect image and show a wider area of the road behind — correct. Yes. The driver sees more of the traffic behind.
• They make the vehicles behind look bigger. Images in a convex mirror are smaller, not bigger.
• They show the traffic behind upside down. A convex mirror's image is always erect.
• They make cars around the bend look larger. Images in a convex mirror are smaller than the object.
• They light up the road at night. A mirror makes no light of its own. It only reflects.
• Drivers can see the other side of the bend and avoid collisions — correct. Yes. The wide, erect view shows what is coming.