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True or false: the sign convention

Exercise and reference answers

Questions
  1. Statement is true
    Yes
    Statement
    Distances are measured from the pole or optic centre.
  2. Statement is true
    Yes
    Statement
    Distances along the incident light are taken as positive.
  3. Statement is true
    No
    Statement
    A concave mirror has a positive focal length.
  4. Statement is true
    Yes
    Statement
    A convex mirror has a positive focal length.
  5. Statement is true
    Yes
    Statement
    Heights measured downwards are negative.

Explanation

Every distance starts at the pole or optic centre, and the direction of the incident light sets the positive sense. Source: syllabus Physics Part II, Ch 9 Ray Optics and Optical Instruments.
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