Images in Plane Mirror

Plane Mirror

is a flat mirror that reflects light rays as they approach the mirror's surface.

Light

____ is best reflected by mirrors.

1. The object size is the same as the image size.

2. The object distance equals to the image distance from the mirror.

3. It is always erect.

4. It is found behind the mirror.

5. The image is laterally reversed, left to right.

Images formed by a plane mirror have

the following characteristics:

Reflection

Is the bouncing back of a light ray from a surface.

1. Diffuse Reflection

2. Specular Reflection

Two Kinds of Reflection:

Diffuse Reflection

This happens when rays are reflected a from a rough surface. They are reflected s in many directions, and no clear image is t formed. Parallel incident light rays strike the surface and reflects in different directions on the other side of the normal ray.

Specular Reflection

also known as regular reflection, occurs when rays are reflected from a smooth surface at a definite angle, and they are d reflected so that a mirror-like image is formed. The reflected rays are nearly parallel.

Ray

A ___ that strikes at right angles to the mirror surface reflects at right angles from the mirror.

virtual, erect

Plane mirrors are the only type of mirror in which a real object always produces an image that is _____, ____ and the same size as the object.

1. Virtual Image

2. Real Image

What are the types of image in a plane mirror?

Virtual Image

are formed by diverging light rays that cannot be projected on a screen. Its orientation is erect, and laterally inverted.

Real Image

is formed when the outgoing rays from a point converge at an actual location.

Multiple Image

____ ___ are formed by the reflection that happens when arranging at least two mirrors at different angles with each other.

Incident Ray

The ray of light approaching the mirror.

Reflected Ray

The Ray of light which leaves the mirror.