![]() ![]() This is a virtual image, since it cannot be projected-the rays only appear to originate from a common point behind the mirror. (The paths of the reflected rays into the eye are the same as if they had come directly from that point behind the mirror.) Using the law of reflection-the angle of reflection equals the angle of incidence-we can see that the image and object are the same distance from the mirror. If the rays are extrapolated backward, they seem to originate from a common point behind the mirror, locating the image. The rays can diverge slightly, and both still get into the eye. Two rays are shown emerging from the same point, striking the mirror, and being reflected into the observer’s eye. The figure above helps illustrate how a flat mirror forms an image. ![]() The two rays shown are those that strike the mirror at just the correct angles to be reflected into the eyes of the viewer. Since the movement of the light rays can be shown geometrically, if a mirror is one-half your height, you could see your whole body in the reflection. Many objects, such as people, clothing, leaves, and walls, have rough surfaces and can be seen from all sides.Ī mirror, on the other hand, has a smooth surface (compared with the wavelength of light) and reflects light at specific angles. Diffused light is what allows us to see a sheet of paper from any angle. ![]() However, light strikes different parts of a rough surface at different angles, and it is reflected in many different directions (“diffused”). We usually notice reflections off a smooth surface. The only way we can see an object that does not itself emit light is if that object reflects light. This is when a light ray, the incident ray, hits a reflective material and bounces off as the reflected ray at a specific angle. When light is bounced off of a material, such as a mirror, this is called a reflection. The law of reflection states that the angle of reflection equals the angle of incidence. ![]()
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