Name: White Light: Mixture of Seven Colours
Uploaded: 2019-07-19
Duration: 4 min 43 s
Description: What is visible light, and what are its characteristics? Watch this video that illustrates the concept of splitting up of white light with a fun activity.

Question

Explain the characteristics of the image formed by a plane mirror with the help of an example.

Accepted Answer

Characteristics of the image formed by a plane mirror:

The image formed in a plane mirror is virtual (or unreal). It cannot be obtained on a screen.

The image formed in a plane mirror is at the same distance behind the mirror as the object in front of it.

The image in a plane mirror is of the same size as the object. It is neither enlarged nor diminished.

The image in a plane mirror is erect. It is the same side up as the object.

The image in a plane mirror is laterally inverted (sideways reversed) with respect to the object.

We can explain the characteristics of an image formed by a plane mirror with a small example and figure given below:

A bulb is hanging from the ceiling in front of a plane mirror. The light rays coming from the bulb (called incident rays) travel in straight lines to the mirror. The mirror reflects these rays of light. The reflected light rays enter our eyes. To us, the light rays seem to be coming from a point behind the mirror (as shown by dotted lines). So, we see an image of the bulb in that position.

Let us understand the various characteristics (or properties) of images formed by a plane mirror.

The image of the bulb in the figure can be seen only by looking into the mirror. The image of the light bulb formed in the plane mirror cannot be obtained on a screen. This means that the image of the bulb in the plane mirror is a virtual image.

If we look at the figure we find that the distance of the image of the bulb from the mirror is equal to the distance of the bulb from the mirror. This means that the image of the bulb is the same distance behind the mirror as the bulb itself is in front of the mirror. Thus, the image formed in a plane mirror is the same distance behind the mirror as the object is in front of the mirror. But the object and the image are on opposite sides of the mirror.

If we look at the figure, we find that the length and breadth of the image of the bulb and its shade are the same as that of the original bulb and its shade. Thus, the image in a plane mirror is of the same size as the object. It is neither diminished nor enlarged.

If we look at the figure, we find that the top of the bulb remains top in the image and the bottom of the bulb remains bottom in the image. Such an image is called an erect image. Thus, the image formed in a plane mirror is erect (or upright).

If we look at the figure once again, we will see that the shade of the bulb has a stamp on it on the right side. But the image has this stamp on the left side. This means that the right side of the bulb becomes the left side of its image in the plane mirror. Thus, there is a change of sides of the bulb and its image in the plane mirror. This change of sides is called lateral inversion. So, the image of the bulb in the plane mirror is laterally inverted.

Explain the characteristics of the image formed by a plane mirror with the help of an example.

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