When measuring the object distance for a spherical mirror, as per the New Cartesian Sign Convention, which sign is assigned if the object is placed in front of the mirror?
Negative sign is assigned
According to the New Cartesian Sign Convention, all distances for a spherical mirror are measured from its pole, taken as the origin, with the principal axis as the x-axis.
Distances measured in the direction of the incident light are taken as positive, while those measured against the direction of incident light are taken as negative.
Since the object is always placed in front of the mirror, i.e. on the side from which light is incident, the object distance lies opposite to the direction of the incident ray, so it is assigned a negative sign.
Hence, the correct answer is Negative sign is assigned.
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