Name the type of mirror used in the following situations:
(i) Headlights of a car
(ii) Rear-view mirror of vehicles
(iii) Solar furnace Support your answer with reason.
Type of mirror used in
(i) Headlights of a car: Concave mirror
Concave mirror is used because light from the bulb placed at the focus of it gets reflected and produces a powerful parallel beam of light to illuminate the road.
(ii) Rear view mirror of vehicles: Convex mirror
Convex mirror is used because it always produces a virtual, and erect image whose size is smaller than the object. Therefore it enables the driver to see wide field view of the traffic behind the vehicle in a small mirror.
(iii) Solar furnace: Concave mirror
Concave mirror has the property to concentrate the sunlight coming from sun along with heat radiation at its focus. As a result, temperature at its focus increases and the substance placed at the focal point gets heated to a high temperature.