A concave mirror produces a real image of an object. What does a negative value of magnification tell you about the image?
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-26 01:10 · grounding rag
Model Answer
A negative value of magnification indicates that the image formed is real and inverted. It means the image is formed on the same side as the reflected rays (in front of the mirror) and is inverted with respect to the object, i.e., it is formed below the principal axis.
Source: Chapter 9, Image Formation by Spherical Mirrors / Sign Convention
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Explanation
- Magnification $m = h'/h$. A negative $m$ means $h'$ is negative, i.e., the image height is measured opposite to the object height → image is inverted.
- For a concave mirror, a real image is always inverted, so $m$ is always negative for real images.
- Examiners expect both key words: real and inverted — missing either loses a mark.
- Do not confuse magnitude (size) with sign (orientation); the question asks about the sign, so focus on what negative tells you about nature and orientation.