Mirror equation
Definition
The mirror equation is a mathematical relationship that relates the object distance (distance of an object from a mirror), the image distance (distance of the image from the mirror), and the focal length of a mirror.
Analogy
Imagine you are taking a selfie with your phone. The distance between your face and the phone's camera is like the object distance, while the distance between your face and the screen where you see yourself is like the image distance. The focal length would be like how far away you hold your arm to get a clear selfie.
Related terms
Focal Length: The focal length is the distance between the center of a lens or mirror and its focus point.
Object Distance: The object distance is the distance between an object and a lens or mirror.
Image Distance: The image distance is the distance between an image formed by a lens or mirror and that lens or mirror.
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