Image Formation and Reflection

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the formation of images through reflection and the conditions under which images are visible. Participants explore the nature of image formation, the role of light reflection from various surfaces, and the differences between virtual and real images.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question how and why images are formed, particularly in relation to light reflection from objects.
  • There is a suggestion that not all objects can form images due to their surface characteristics, such as the ruggedness of walls, which may prevent a clear image from being seen.
  • One participant describes the concept of virtual images, explaining that they appear to come from points that do not actually emit light, contrasting this with real images that can be projected onto a screen.
  • Another participant expresses a personal journey of understanding and seeks reassurance about their learning process in physics.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying levels of understanding regarding image formation and the conditions necessary for images to be visible. There is no consensus on the specifics of how images are formed or the implications of reflection from different surfaces.

Contextual Notes

Some limitations in the discussion include the lack of clarity on the definitions of virtual and real images, as well as the conditions under which different surfaces reflect light. The discussion also reflects varying levels of familiarity with the concepts among participants.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for students learning about optics, particularly those interested in the principles of reflection and image formation in physics.

san203
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I have been having trouble with this for a long time

1st - How and Why is a image formed ?

2nd - If all objects reflect light why is the image not seen on all the objects

Even walls reflect light but there is no image formation when light rays from an object reflect off an object and strike the Wall.
 
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san203 said:
I have been having trouble with this for a long time

1st - How and Why is a image formed ?

2nd - If all objects reflect light why is the image not seen on all the objects

Even walls reflect light but there is no image formation when light rays from an object reflect off an object and strike the Wall.

1st: when you understand that, please let me know! Its not easy.
2nd: image may not form on an object always.
wall is too rugged to form image of all points of some object on a single plane, so that you could see the image.
this will also help you in another way: all things reflect light but the percentage of light reflected depends on the angle of incidence: http://physics-animations.com/Physics/English/rays_txt.htm"
 
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An image is something that you can see and identify in some way. You identify a part of an image by light entering your eye as if it came from an array of points that correspond (well or badly, depending on the 'quality') to an original (maybe not an actual) object. But light appears to be spreading out from those points.

You see the surface of a gloss painted wall (or a dirty mirror) because some light is actually scattered by imperfections on the surface (diffuse reflection) and your eye / brain identify them as being on the surface. But you can also see reflected objects because a significant amount of the reflected light can be identified by your eye / brain as coming from other locations (called a coherent reflection) because light appears to be spreading out from identifiable points on their imagee.

Images in a reflection are called Virtual, because the light doesn't actually originat in the points that you 'see' - it just looks as if it does. Many of the images in lenses are virtual because the light doesn't actually originate from a real array of points at all. There are conditions when the light coming from a lens (or concave mirrior) actually passes through a real location in space (a focus) and that's a real image. You could put a screen there and an image would actually form on the screen.
 
Thanks sophiecentaur for helping me again.I sat down and thought about it hard before visiting this thread again and had pretty much figured this out on my own but you confirmed my logic.

BTW will i get to learn this better when i am older?
I am in the 10th grade now.
 
I am sure that, if you take the trouble to ask on forums like this one, you will do find. Good luck with your Science.
 

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