I can't seem to grasp curved mirrors. Can someone help me with this?

Question

unknownrandom · Answer

attachment

unknownrandom · Answer

attachment

unknownrandom · Answer

I am confused where the normal line is drawn is it supposed to be through the center? Where would use place a protractor to measure the angle of the incident ray?

unknownrandom · Answer

@theEric

unknownrandom · Answer

The physics attachment is the one I am on right now.

theeric · Answer

Hi! The "normal" line is "normal." (I'm not being a jerk and saying the obvious, I just mean to be repetitive to help you maybe).

"Normal" is usually thought of the same way as you do in mechanical physics.

"Normal" is "perpendicular to the surface.

So, in mechanics, we have|dw:1396230933750:dw|

For a flat mirror, we have|dw:1396231016577:dw|

And, for a curved mirror, we have|dw:1396231102516:dw|