Mirrors and Lens naming

[EECStoMed]

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So, I just found out the hard way after going over my kaplan exams:


a concave mirror is also known as a converging mirror
a convex mirros is also known as a diverging mirror

HOWEVER,


a converging lens is also known as a convex lens
a diverging lens is also known as a concave lens

I was like WTFFFF, anyone else know this before now?

 

[FlowLimited]

Yep. Although, I'm a physics major, so that's not saying much.

The naming actually makes perfect sense if you think about what the terms mean and not about the fact that things are apparantly backwards when you switch from mirrors to lenses. Concave/convex refers to the shape of the lens, while converging/diverging has to do with what the light does as it hits the mirror or passes through the lens. If you think about these two optical characteristics separately and not simply as synonyms, it's a lot easier to understand.

 

[axp107]

Yeah I used to get confused too..

Instead of just memorizing, try drawing diagrams for all 4 situations and it'll make more sense.

 

[FlowLimited]

Yeah I used to get confused too..

Instead of just memorizing, try drawing diagrams for all 4 situations and it'll make more sense.

I agree, a conceptual understanding along with a visual model of what the names represent will be extremely helpful.

 

[EECStoMed]

Hey AXP, how is your test coming along? Do you think the Kaplan tests are getting harder as the #s increase?

Yeah I used to get confused too..

Instead of just memorizing, try drawing diagrams for all 4 situations and it'll make more sense.

 

[axp107]

I dunno.. I haven't taken any after #5. I probably won't take any more Kaplans.. I'll maybe look at the PS sections again.. or for some of the newer ones if I have time... but that's about it. My sciences seem fine.
So, I'm going to be taking CBTs 7 - 10 in the next 2 weeks... mainly trying to focus on Verbal.

What about you?

 

[EECStoMed]

I dunno.. I haven't taken any after #5. I probably won't take any more Kaplans.. I'll maybe look at the PS sections again.. or for some of the newer ones if I have time... but that's about it. My sciences seem fine.
So, I'm going to be taking CBTs 7 - 10 in the next 2 weeks... mainly trying to focus on Verbal.

What about you?

I plan to do all the kaplans. I find them to be good practice despite being a bit on the hard side; but the thing that worries me now is that AAMC is going more towards the Kaplan route which makes me think that I should definitely be ready for whatever they throw at me. Not completing them and having an actual aamc passage that was in the kaplan practice would make me cringe. I only have 9-10 and AAMC left.

 

[axp107]

I plan to do all the kaplans. I find them to be good practice despite being a bit on the hard side; but the thing that worries me now is that AAMC is going more towards the Kaplan route which makes me think that I should definitely be ready for whatever they throw at me. Not completing them and having an actual aamc passage that was in the kaplan practice would make me cringe. I only have 9-10 and AAMC left.

9-10 of AAMC or 9-10 of Kaplan.. how'd the later Kaplan tests go?

 

[EECStoMed]

9-10 of AAMC or 9-10 of Kaplan.. how'd the later Kaplan tests go?

I still have 9-10 on AAMC left, 2 more on TPR and 6-11 on Kapan.

 

[axp107]

damn.. you're planning to do all of those by Aug 20th?

 

[Ludacris]

This is said in the EK book. 🙂