Unit: Optics
Year: 94 Question#: 86
Question: A plane mirror produces an image of an object. Compared to the object, the image appears.
(1 ) inverted and the same size
(2 ) reversed and the same size
(3 ) inverted and larger
(4 ) reversed and larger
What is this question really asking?
Explanation by: Derek K
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Answer 1
inverted and the same size
INCORRECT
As you can see the image produce d is the same size. The image will also be reversed since the light rays reflecting of the mirror will appear to come form the opposite side of the image than the side they came form of the object. Also as a general rule an object's image in a plane mirror will appear behind the mirror at a distance equal to the objects distance form the mirror. return to top
Answer 2
reversed and the same
CORRECT
As you can see the image produce d is the same size. The image will also be reversed since the light rays reflecting of the mirror will appear to come form the opposite side of the image than the side they came form of the object. Also as a general rule an objects image in a plane mirror will appear behind the mirror at a distance equal to the objects distance form the mirror. return to top
Answer 3
inverted and larger
INCORRECT
As you can see the image produce d is the same size. The image will also be reversed since the light rays reflecting of the mirror will appear to come form the opposite side of the image than the side they came form of the object. Also as a general rule an object's image in a plane mirror will appear behind the mirror at a distance equal to the objects distance form the mirror. return to top
Answer 4
reversed and larger
INCORRECT
As you can see the image produce d is the same size. The image will also be reversed since the light rays reflecting of the mirror will appear to come form the opposite side of the image than the side they came form of the object. Also as a general rule an object's image in a plane mirror will appear behind the mirror at a distance equal to the objects distance form the mirror. return to top
What's this question really asking?
The question is really asking about what happens to light when it reflects off a plane mirror. The answer to this question can be found by ray tracing. The image will appear on the opposite side of the mirror and will be reversed. Also a rule for plain mirrors is that the image will appear as far from the mirror and behind it as the object is in front of the mirror. The image is reversed since the light bouncing of the mirror appears too come form the opposite side of the image than it actually came from on the object.
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