Final answer:
The outside flat mirrors on vehicles are used for viewing behind and to the sides to prevent blind spots, offering an accurate distance representation. Curved mirrors like convex mirrors provide a wider field but distort the size and distance of reflected objects.
Step-by-step explanation:
The outside left and right side flat mirrors on a vehicle, also known as side-view mirrors, are used to help drivers see areas behind and to the sides of their vehicle, which are not visible using the rearview mirror. These mirrors are typically flat to present an accurate representation of the distance of vehicles behind you. Unlike curved mirrors, like concave or convex mirrors, flat mirrors do not distort the size or shape of the reflected images. This helps in gauging the distance and speed of approaching vehicles more precisely.
However, a disadvantage of flat mirrors compared to curved mirrors is that they have a smaller field of view. This means that flat mirrors cannot cover as wide an area as convex mirrors, which can lead to blind spots. To address this issue, some vehicles use a convex mirror that curves outward to provide a wider field of view, reducing the blind spots at the expense of making objects appear smaller and farther away than they really are. This is the main reason why convex mirrors are used as rear-view mirrors in vehicles.