Question

write an experiment . To show that an image formed by a plane mirror is virtual and direct image​

Answer 1

Answer:

You only have to look as far as the nearest bathroom to find an example of an image formed by a mirror. Images in a plane mirror are the same size as the object, are located behind the mirror, and are oriented in the same direction as the object (i.e., “upright”).

To understand how this happens, consider (Figure). Two rays emerge from point P, strike the mirror, and reflect into the observer’s eye. Note that we use the law of reflection to construct the reflected rays. If the reflected rays are extended backward behind the mirror (see dashed lines in (Figure)), they seem to originate from point Q. This is where the image of point P is located. If we repeat this process for point , we obtain its image at point . You should convince yourself by using basic geometry that the image height (the distance from Q to ) is the same as the object height (the distance from P to ). By forming images of all points of the object, we obtain an upright image of the object behind the mirror.

Two light rays originating from point P on an object are reflected by a flat mirror into the eye of an observer. The reflected rays are obtained by using the law of reflection. Extending these reflected rays backward, they seem to come from point Q behind the mirror, which is where the virtual image is located. Repeating this process for point  gives the image point . The image height is thus the same as the object height, the image is upright, and the object distance  is the same as the image distance . (credit: modification of work by Kevin Dufendach)



Notice that the reflected rays appear to the observer to come directly from the image behind the mirror. In reality, these rays come from the points on the mirror where they are reflected. The image behind the mirror is called a virtual image because it cannot be projected onto a screen—the rays only appear to originate from a common point behind the mirror. If you walk behind the mirror, you cannot see the image, because the rays do not go there. However, in front of the mirror, the rays behave exactly as if they come from behind the mirror, so that is where the virtual image is located.

Answer 2

Answer:

The image behind the mirror is called a virtual image because it cannot be projected onto a screen—the rays only appear to originate from a common point behind the mirror. You can certainly see both real and virtual images