Question

Describe the meaning of the focal length of a spherical mirror.

1)The focal length is the distance between the focal point and the image.
2)The focal length is the distance between the mirror and the center of curvature.
3)The focal length is the distance between the focal point and the object.
4)The focal length is the distance between the mirror and the focal point.

Answer 1

4)The focal length is the distance between the mirror and the focal point.

Step-by-step explanation:

Spherical mirrors are of two types which are concave mirror and convex mirror.

All this mirrors possesses focal point which is the point where all light incident on the mirror converges after reflection. This focal point is closer to the pole of the curved mirror. The length between this focal point of the curved mirror and the pole of the mirror is therefore the FOCAL LENGTH of the mirror.