Spherical Mirror Ray Diagram Simulator | DAV Centenary Public School, Bahadurgarh

▬ Object ▬ Image ▬ Rule 1 ▬ Rule 2 ▬ Rule 3 ▬ Rule 4 Dashed = virtual

Image distance (v)

Magnification (m)

Nature

Position of image

Drag on the diagram (or use the arrow keys) to move the object.

Mirror type

Rays to draw (any 2 rules at a time)

Rule 1 · Parallel to principal axis (reflects through / from F) Rule 2 · Through / towards centre of curvature C (retraces path) Rule 3 · Through / towards focus F (reflects parallel) Rule 4 · Incident at pole P (reflects with ∠i = ∠r about the axis)

Object position (u)

Focal length (f = R/2)

Image properties

Image distance (v)
Magnification (m)
Nature
Position

Size comparison

Mirror formula: 1/v + 1/u = 1/f | m = −v/u
New Cartesian sign convention: pole P is the origin, incident light travels left → right, so u is negative. f is negative for a concave mirror and positive for a convex mirror.