Chat with our AI personalities
Parabolic mirrors were described and studied in classical antiquity by the mathematician Diocles in his work On Burning Mirrors. Ptolemy conducted a number of experiments with curved polished iron mirrors, and discussed plane, convex spherical, and concave spherical mirrors in his Optics.
Spherical mirrors were understood by ancient Greek philosophers, but it was the Arab scientist Alhazen in the 11th century who provided a detailed explanation of their properties through his work on optics. His writings on spherical mirrors laid the foundation for the understanding of reflection and refraction in optics.
A convex mirror would be suitable for viewing a large area due to its ability to create a wider field of view compared to flat or concave mirrors. Convex mirrors are often used in security and traffic mirrors to provide a broad reflection of the surroundings.
The spherical shape of the crystal caught the light beautifully.
The adjective spherical corresponds to the noun sphere.