Question:medium

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

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Updated On: Jan 13, 2026
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Solution and Explanation

(a) Concave mirror: Concave mirrors are utilized in car headlights. This application is due to their ability to generate a strong, parallel beam of light when the light source is positioned at their principal focus.


(b) Convex mirror: Convex mirrors are employed as side/rear-view mirrors in vehicles. They produce a virtual, erect, and smaller image of objects placed before them, offering a broad field of vision. This allows drivers to observe a significant portion of the traffic behind them.


(c) Concave mirrors: Concave mirrors are convergent mirrors, making them suitable for constructing solar furnaces. They focus incident light at a single point, the principal focus, thereby concentrating a substantial amount of heat at that location.

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