Are Car Mirrors Convex or Concave?
2 Answers
Car mirrors are convex. Relevant information about car mirrors is as follows: Reason why car mirrors are convex: The mirror surface is spherical with varying radii of curvature. The reflected image appears smaller than the actual view, but the field of vision is wider, similar to the effect of a camera's "wide-angle lens." Such convex mirrors are commonly used as side mirrors and lower rearview mirrors. Working principle of convex mirrors: When parallel light rays hit a convex mirror, the reflected rays diverge. This expands the field of vision, allowing drivers to better observe vehicles behind them. More importantly, drivers do not need to look directly at the convex mirror—they can observe the rear situation using their peripheral vision. How to adjust car mirrors: First, adjust the left side mirror. The driver should use the horizon as a reference and adjust the vertical angle so that the sky and ground each occupy half of the mirror. Next, adjust the horizontal angle so that the car body occupies about 1/4 of the mirror. Note that when adjusting the mirror, the driver should maintain their normal driving posture and not lean closer to the mirror for observation. Then, adjust the right side mirror. Since the right mirror is farther from the driver, the sky should occupy less space. Compared to the left mirror, the right mirror should have a different sky-to-ground ratio: the sky should occupy 1/4, and the ground should occupy 3/4. The horizontal angle adjustment is similar to the left mirror. Finally, adjust the central interior rearview mirror, which is much simpler—simply position it so that the driver can see the rear situation through the rear window.
I've been driving for over ten years, and people often ask whether car mirrors are convex or concave. Simply put, the side mirror on the exterior of a car is a convex mirror. This design aims to expand the field of view, making it easier to see vehicles on the side and reduce blind spots. Concave mirrors magnify images but aren't suitable for cars; convex mirrors slightly shrink the image but provide a wider view. I remember when I first started driving, I once changed lanes without clearly seeing an approaching car and nearly collided. Later, I learned that convex mirrors allow a broader viewing angle. Now, I've developed the habit of regularly adjusting my mirrors to maintain clear visibility. If you drive, you'll notice the warning 'objects in mirror are closer than they appear'—this is because convex mirrors make objects appear farther away, so it takes some getting used to. In short, these small mirrors significantly improve driving safety, so don’t underestimate them.
