Learn more about ray diagrams using these hands-on physics diagrams that we have collected for you! A ray diagram is a diagram that traces the path that light takes in order for a person to view a point on the image of an object. Follow these diagrams to study more about ray diagram and we’ll start by giving you the first diagram below.
On the ray diagram, rays (lines with arrows) are drawn for the incident ray and the reflected ray. Complex objects such as people are often represented by stick figures or arrows. In a ray diagram, the mirror is drawn a straight line with thick hatchings to show which side has the reflective coating. The ray diagram above illustrates that the image of an object in front of a biconcave lens will be located at a position behind the double concave lens. Furthermore, the image will be upright, reduced in size (smaller than the object), and virtual.
Ray diagrams can be particularly useful for determining and explaining why only a portion of the image of an object can be seen from a given location. The ray diagram at the right shows the lines of sight used by the eye in order to see a portion of the image in the mirror. The convex ray diagram above illustrates that the image of an object in front of a convex mirror will be located at a position behind the convex mirror. Furthermore, the image will be upright, reduced in size (smaller than the object), and virtual.
All these diagrams are printable and you can also learn more about the other physics and anatomy diagrams by browsing through our latest posts or looking it up on the search column!