Question

A dentist uses a concave mirror (focal length 2.5 cm) to examine some teeth. If the distance from the object to the mirror is 1.4 cm, what is the magnification of the tooth?

Answer 1

Answer:

2.28

Explanation:

From mirror formula,

1/f = 1/u+1/v .......... Equation 1

Where f = focal length of the mirror, v = image distance, u = object distance.

Note: The focal length mirror is positive.

make v the subject of the equation,

v = fu/(u-f)............ Equation 2

Given: f = 2.5 cm, u = 1.4 cm

Substitute into equation 2

v = 2.5(1.4)/(1.4-2.5)

v = 3.5/-1.1

v = -3.2 cm.

Note: v is negative because it is a virtual image.

But,

Magnification = image distance/object distance

M = v/u

Where M = magnification.

Given: v = 3.2 cm, u = 1.4 cm

M = 3.2/1.4

M = 2.28.

Thus the magnification of the tooth = 2.28.