Final answer:
In a convex mirror, images appear smaller because the reflected light rays diverge, creating a virtual image between the focal point and the mirror, which reduces the size of the image. In contrast, concave mirrors can produce images that disappear at the focal point due to the reflected light rays becoming parallel.
Step-by-step explanation:
When you look in a convex mirror, your image will indeed appear smaller. This effect occurs because convex mirrors diverge light rays that are reflecting off of an object. Consequently, when these diverged rays reach the observer's eyes, they make the object appear smaller than its actual size. This is because the virtual image formed by a convex mirror is located between the focal point and the mirror, causing the size of the image to be reduced compared to the object itself.
Conversely, using a concave mirror, if you look at the reflection of a faraway object, you might observe the image size changing as you move the object closer to the mirror. If the object is placed at the mirror's focal point, the image will disappear because the reflected rays become parallel and the height of the image approaches infinity, making it impossible to see.
Similarly, security mirror systems often utilize convex mirrors because they produce a smaller, upright image. This reduced image size allows a larger area to be monitored, enhancing security (e.g. Figure 16.11 Security mirrors).