Question

An object is placed at a distance of 4m from the mirror. It is shifted 2m away from it and

then 3m towards it? Calculate the distance between the object and the image. Which rule for the

image formation by a plane mirror is applicable in this situation?​

Answer 1

Final answers:

➡ Distance between the object and the image = 6 m

➡ Property used: The distance between the object and the mirror is equal to the distance between the image and the mirror.

Solution:

⇒ Basic statements provided:

➡ Distance at which the object is placed from the mirror at first = 4 m

➡ Later on it is moved away from the mirror at a distance of 2 m.

➡ Then, it is moved forward at a distance of 3 m.

⇒ Solving:

The distance at first the object is placed in front of the mirror is 4 m. Then it is mentioned that it is moved away at a distance of 2 m.

$\sf{\longrightarrow\:4m+2m=6m}$

✳ Operation of addition is used as distance is increasing.

The current distance of the object from the mirror is 6 m.

Then, it is mentioned that it is moved forward by 3 m.

$\sf{\longrightarrow\:6m-3m=3m}$

✳ Operation of subtraction to be used as distance is decreasing.

Now, we are asked to find the total distance between the image and the object.

$\bf{\longrightarrow\:3m+3m=6m}$

The property used here is that an image formed on a plane mirror is located at the same distance behind the mirror as the distance of the object from the mirror placed in front of it.

Plane Mirrors:

Plane mirrors are the common mirrors used commonly that has a flat surface. The properties of an image formed on a plane mirror are mentioned below:

✳ The image formed is virtual and erect.

✳ The image is laterally inverted.

✳ It is located behind the mirror at the same distance at which the object is placed in front of the mirror.

✳ The size of the image is as same as that of the object.

The other types of mirrors include concave and convex mirrors.