Question

An object is placed 10 cm in front of a diverging mirror. What is the focal length of the mirror if the image appears 2 cm behind the mirror?

Answer 1

Answer:

the focal length of the mirror is :  $f=-2.5\,\,cm$

Explanation:

Use the formula for the formation of image using a divergent mirror and recalling that the image (s') that this mirror formed is virtual, so it is entered as a negative number in the formula. Use the object position (s) as 10, the image position (s') as -2, and derive the value of the focal length:

$\frac{1}{s} +\frac{1}{s'}=\frac{1}{f}\\\frac{1}{10} +\frac{1}{-2}=\frac{1}{f}\\\frac{1}{10} -\frac{1}{2}=\frac{1}{f}\\\frac{10\,f}{10} -\frac{10\,f}{2}=\frac{10\,f}{f}\\f-5\,f=10\\-4\,f=10\\f=-2.5\,\,cm$