How does a concave mirror differ from a convex mirror?

A concave mirror differs from a convex mirror primarily in how it interacts with light and the types of images it produces. A concave mirror is designed with a reflective surface that curves inward, resembling a portion of a sphere. This inward curvature allows the mirror to converge, or focus, incoming parallel light rays toward a single point known as the focal point.

When light rays strike a concave mirror, they reflect off the surface and converge in front of the mirror, which allows it to produce real images when the object is placed beyond the focal point. These real images can be projected onto a screen and are typically inverted. This property of converging light and forming real images makes concave mirrors useful in applications such as telescopes and makeup mirrors, where magnification and detail are important.

In contrast, convex mirrors, which curve outward, diverge light rays. This means the light rays spread apart after reflection, making it appear as though they originate from a point behind the mirror. As a result, convex mirrors always produce virtual images that are upright and smaller than the objects being viewed, which is why they're commonly used in vehicle side mirrors for a wider field of view.

Thus, the distinction regarding the convergence of light and the nature of the images produced