Name the type of mirror used in the following situations.

1. Headlights of a car
2. Side/rear-view mirror of a vehicle
3. Solar furnace

Support your answer with reason.

(a) Concave

(b) Convex

(c) Concave

Explanation

(a) Concave mirror is used in the headlights of a car. This is because concave mirrors can produce powerful parallel beam of light when the light source is placed at their principal focus.

(b) Convex mirror is used in side/rear view mirror of a vehicle because convex mirrors give a virtual, erect, and diminished image of the objects placed in front of them and have a wide field of view. It enables the driver to see most of the traffic behind him/her.

(c) Concave mirrors are convergent mirrors. That is why they are used to construct solar furnaces. Concave mirrors converge the light incident on them at a single point known as principal focus. Hence, they can be used to produce a large amount of heat at that point.