Concave Mirror

Convex Mirror

Structure

A concave mirror is a spherical mirror in which the reflecting surface and the center of curvature fall on the same side of the mirror. In other words, if the mirror coating lies outside of the spherical surface, then it is known as a concave mirror.

A convex mirror is a spherical mirror in which the reflecting surface and the center of curvature lie on the opposite sides of the mirror. In other words, if the mirror coating lies in the inside of the spherical surface, then it is known as a convex mirror.

Other name

Converging Mirror

Diverging Mirror, Fish eye mirror

Image projection

Can be projected on a screen

Cannot be projected on a screen.

Meaning

Concave means “hollowed or rounded”.

Convex means “curved or rounded like the outside of a sphere or circle”.

Image

(C stands for center of curvature, F for focal point and V for vertex)

• Position of object (infinity) Position of Image (At F) Character of Image (Real, zero size)

• Position of object (between infinity and C) Position of Image (Between F and C) Character of Image (real, inverted, diminished) 
• Position of object (AT C) Character of Image (Real, inverted, same size)

• Position of object (Between C and F)  Position of Image (Between C and infinity). Character of Image (Real, inverted, magnified)
• Position of object (Between F and V) Position of Image (From –infinity to V) Character of Image (Virtual, upright, magnified)
• Position of object (AT V) Position of Image (At V) Character of Image (Virtual, upright, same size)

• Position of object (infinity) Position of Image (At F) Character of Image (Virtual, zero size)

• Position of object (between infinity and V) Position of Image (Between F and V) Character of Image (Virtual, upright, Diminished) 
• Position of object (AT V) Position of Image (At V) Character of Image (Virtual, upright, same size)