A spherical mirror of which the reflecting surface is curved inwards is known to be a concave mirror. The back of the mirrors is always shaded so that reflection can take place only from the inward bulged surface. Concave mirrors are also called converging mirrors, because the ray of light after bouncing back from it appears to converge to a focus. The surface of the steel spoon which is curved inwards can acts like a concave mirror.

Uses of Concave Mirror

• Concave mirrors are most widely used in shaving because they have reflective and curved surfaces.
• Concave mirrors are also widely used in making astronomical telescopes.
• Concave mirrors are widely used in headlights of automobiles and in motor vehicles, torchlights, railway engines, etc. as reflectors.
• The dentists use concave mirrors to see large images of the teeth of patients.
• Large concave mirrors are used to concentrate sunlight to produce heat in solar furnaces.
• Concave mirrors are also used as satellite dishes. The main purpose of this mirror is to gather weaker signals coming from large areas and concentrate them at one point.