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The Image in a Mirror

Part of the Optics, Waves and Modern Physics section of Coddy's Physics journey. Lesson 8 of 53.

Light from A reflects off the mirror. Traced back, the rays all seem to come from one point behind it: the image A′.

A point and its image in a mirror

As far behind the mirror as the object is in front, on the line at right angles to it.

The image is the same size and upright. It is virtual: no light passes through it.

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Challenge

A girl stands 1.5 m in front of a wall mirror. How far D is she from her image?

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This lesson includes a short quiz. Start the lesson to answer it and track your progress.

All lessons in Optics, Waves and Modern Physics

1Reflection and Refraction

Reflection of LightThe Refractive IndexSnell's LawTotal Internal ReflectionDispersionApparent DepthRecap - Optical Fiber

4Mechanical Waves

What a Wave IsTwo Graphs of a WaveWhen Pulses MeetInterferenceStanding WavesHarmonicsRecap - Guitar String

7Photons

Light Comes in PhotonsThe Photoelectric EffectEinstein's EquationStopping VoltageCounting PhotonsRecap - Solar Cell

10Nuclear Energy

Mass DefectBinding Energy per NucleonFission and FusionRecap - Inside the Sun

2Plane Mirrors

The Image in a MirrorSeeing in a MirrorTwo MirrorsRecap - Periscope

5The Ripple Tank

Two SourcesNodal LinesHow the Pattern ChangesRecap - Two Speakers

8The Bohr Atom

The Bohr ModelEmission and AbsorptionSpectral LinesRecap - Hydrogen Lamp

3Thin Lenses

Lenses and Their RaysThe Lens EquationVirtual ImagesTwo LensesA Lens and a MirrorRecap - Build a Projector

6Light as a Wave

Light Through Two SlitsFringes on a ScreenDiffraction by One SlitThe Diffraction GratingRecap - Measure with a CD

9The Nucleus

Inside the NucleusRadioactive DecayHalf-LifeActivityRadioactive DatingRecap - Carbon Dating