Spherical Mirror Focal Length – Rankers Physics
Topic: Ray Optics
Subtopic: Reflection by Spherical Mirrors

Spherical Mirror Focal Length

Assertion (A): The focal length of a spherical mirror does not depend on the wavelength of light.
Reason (R): In case of reflection of light from a denser medium the phase changes by \(\pi\).
 
(1) Both (A) & (R) are true and the (R) is the correct explanation of the (A)
(2) Both (A) & (R) are true but the (R) is not the correct explanation of the (A)
(3) (A) is true but (R) is false
(4) Both (A) and (R) are false

Solution:

The focal length of a spherical mirror ((f = R/2)) depends only on its geometric curvature, not on the wavelength of light or the medium's refractive index. Thus, (A) is true.
When light reflects from the surface of an optically denser medium (e.g., from air to glass), there is a phase change of \(\pi\) (or \(180^\circ)\). Thus, (R) is true.
However, the phase change on reflection does not explain why the focal length of a mirror is independent of wavelength. This independence is due to the nature of reflection itself, where the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection regardless of wavelength.

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