Where is the object located if the image that is produced by a concave mirror is smaller than the object?

1 Answer
May 28, 2014

The object is outside of the center of curvature.

This diagram should help:

www.physicsclassroom.com

What you see here are the red arrows, indicating the positions of the object in front of the concave mirror. The positions of the images produced are shown in blue.

  • When the object is outside of C, the image is smaller than the object, inverted, and between F and C. (moves closer to C as the object moves closer to C) This is a real image.
  • When the object is at C, the image is the same size as the object, inverted, and at C. This is a real image.
  • When the object is between C and F, the image is larger than the object, inverted, and outside of C. This is a real image.
  • When the object is at F, no image is formed because the light rays are parallel and never converge to form an image. This is a real image.
  • When the object is inside of F, the image is larger than the object, upright, and located behind the mirror (it is virtual).