Sign convention for reflection by spherical mirrors Mirror formula and magnification
Sign convention for reflection by spherical mirrors To deal with the reflection of light by spherical mirror, we have to follow a set of conventions is known as the new cartesian sign convention. The pole of the spherical mirror is taken as the origin. The principal axis of the spherical mirror is taken as the X-axis of the coordinate system. The object is always placed to the left of the spherical mirror. It means to say that the ray of light coming from the object falls on the spherical mirror from the left handed side. All the distances parallel to the principal axis are measured from the pole of the spherical mirror. All the distances which are measured to the right (along +ve X-axis) are taken as the positive. All the distance which are measured to the left of the origin (along -ve X-axis ) are taken as the negative. The height measured perpendicular to the principal axis and are upward to the principal axis (along +ve Y-axis) are taken as positive. The height