Question:
what is the new cartesian sign convention for reflection and refraction at spherical surfaces
Answer:
- The object is always placed on the left side of the mirror/lens and the incident light falls on the object from the left side only
- All the distances parallel to the principal axis are measured from the optical centre of the mirror or the lens
- All distances measured to the right of the origin (pole) are taken to be positive and all distances measured to the left of the origin are taken to be negative.
- The distances above and perpendicular to the principal axis, which is +ve y axis is taken as positive.
- The distances below and perpendicular to the principal axis, which is -ve y axis is taken as negative.
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