Question

A point source is to be used with a concave mirror to produce a beam of parallel light. The source should be placed: midway between the focal point and the mirror O as close to the mirror as possible O at the center of curvature O midway between the center of curvature and the mirror O midway between the center of curvature and the focal point

Answer 1

A point source should be placed midway between the focal point and the mirror to produce a beam of parallel light with a concave mirror.

Step-by-step explanation:

A point source should be placed midway between the focal point and the mirror to produce a beam of parallel light with a concave mirror. This is because parallel rays of light reflected from the mirror will seem to originate from the point F at the focal distance f behind the mirror. A concave mirror is a converging mirror, and the focal length f is positive. Placing the point source at this position ensures that the reflected rays will be parallel after passing through the mirror.