The centre of curvature of a concave mirror lies ________ the mirror, whereas it lies _______ the mirror for a convex mirror.

Correct option is D

The correct answer is (d) In front of; behind

Explanation:

•  Concave Mirror: A concave mirror is a mirror with an inward-curved reflecting surface. The center of curvature for a concave mirror lies in front of the mirror, as it is located along the principal axis on the same side as the reflecting surface.
• Convex Mirror: A convex mirror has an outward-curved reflecting surface. The center of curvature for a convex mirror lies behind the mirror, opposite to the reflecting surface, along the principal axis.

Information Booster:

• Center of Curvature: The center of curvature is the point on the principal axis at a distance equal to the radius of curvature (R) from the mirror. It is the center of the sphere of which the mirror is a part.
• Concave Mirror: In concave mirrors, the center of curvature is located in front of the mirror, and the mirror reflects light toward the focal point, which is also in front of the mirror.
• Convex Mirror: In convex mirrors, the center of curvature is located behind the mirror because the reflected rays diverge and appear to originate from a point behind the mirror.