Mission RM2 Plane Mirror Images
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Which of the following statements are true of plane mirror images? List all that apply ... .
An image is a likeness of an object that is at a location in space where it would seem to all observers as though the reflected light is coming from.
Suppose you place a small light bulb in front of a mirror. Light rays extend from the bulb in all directions, many of which will approach the mirror. We refer to these rays as incident rays. Each incident ray reflects off the mirror according to the law of reflection. The reflected rays emerge from the mirror at different locations. Any observer in the room can see the image of the light bulb as the reflected light travels to their eyes. If every reflected ray is extended backwards behind the mirror, they will all intersect at the image location. The image location is the location in space where it would seem to all observers as though the reflected light is coming from.
It is a common misconception among physics students that a plane mirror image is located on the mirror surface. After all, an observer looks at the mirror surface to see it. But don't be fooled! The image is not located on the surface. In fact, it is located behind the surface of the mirror - and as far behind it as the object is in front of it. Each observer looks at the mirror image along a different line of sight. If each line of sight is extended backwards behind the mirror, they would all intersect at the image location. See Define Help section.
