Images in Plane Mirrors

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary and definitions related to the properties and behaviors of images formed in plane mirrors, as discussed in the lecture notes.

Virtual Image

An image formed by light coming from an apparent light source; light is not arriving at or coming from the actual image location.

Lateral Inversion

The orientation of an image in a plane mirror that is backwards and in reverse order.

Angle of Incidence

The angle formed between the incident ray and the normal at the point of incidence.

Angle of Reflection

The angle formed between the reflected ray and the normal at the point of incidence.

Object-Image Line

A line drawn between the original object and the location of the image, which is perpendicular to the mirror surface.

SALT

An acronym representing Size, Attitude, Location, and Type, used to describe the characteristics of an image.

Plane Mirror

A flat surface that reflects light to produce a virtual image that appears the same distance behind the mirror as the object is in front.

Upright Image

An image that is oriented in the same direction as the object.

Opaque Mirror

A non-transparent mirror that does not allow light to pass through.

Incident Ray

A ray of light that strikes a surface.