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Besides having different definitions, there are many differences between real and virtual images. Real images are formed on the object's side of the mirror at locations where light actually comes together. Since light is present at a real image location, such images are projectable onto a sheet of paper. Virtual images are formed behind the mirror where light never reaches. virtual images can never be projected onto a sheet of paper. Virtual images such as those seen in plane mirrors are upright images. Real images are inverted images. Of course, both types of images can be seen when sighting at the image location in the mirror. And both types of images can be either magnified, reduced or the same size as the object, depending on the type of mirror which produced it.
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