Is a Flat Mirror Capable of Producing a Real Image?

In summary, the conversation discusses the concept of real and virtual images in a projector system. The system includes a lens that expands light and a flat mirror that reflects the light onto a screen. The resulting image may appear distorted, but it is still considered a real image. The conversation also addresses the misconception that flat mirrors cannot produce real images, clarifying that the use of a mirror in this system is simply to redirect the light and does not affect the nature of the image. The conversation concludes with a clearer understanding of the concept of real and virtual images in a projector system.
  • #1
Kevin Willis
25
3
I am struggling on one concept that I can't find when doing a thorough search.

System: You have a projector (known to project real images onto a screen). The projector expands light with a lens, the light propagates to a flat mirror on a wall and reflects onto a screen.Conclusion: Although the image may appear distorted, it is real. It originated from a point and expanded before reflecting onto a screen.So, if that conclusion is right, then how is it that a flat mirror can be used a system that produces a real image when every definition basically says "no flat mirrors in a real image system"?

If the conclusion is wrong and in the system here the image is now virtual, then should I conclude that anything reflected off a flat mirror is virtual? Also, does this mean that a laser shining on a screen is real but a laser shining off a flat mirror on a screen is virtual (same concept, but just double checking)?
 
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  • #2
It can't. Either the mirror is curved, or there is a pinhole you left out.
 
  • #3
When you look through a mirror, you see a virtual image. You aren't looking through a mirror in this setup. You are looking at a screen. Any time you look at an image projected onto a screen, you are looking at a real image.
 
  • #4
K^2 said:
When you look through a mirror, you see a virtual image. You aren't looking through a mirror in this setup. You are looking at a screen. Any time you look at an image projected onto a screen, you are looking at a real image.

Thanks, I think I understand the concept completely now.
 
  • #5
In your projector, the lens produces the image. The mirror simply redirects the light so the image appears in a different location than it otherwise would. If you remove the mirror, and maybe cut a hole in the projector, you can probably get an image somewhere, maybe on the ceiling or on a different wall.
 
  • #6
Kevin Willis said:
So, if that conclusion is right, then how is it that a flat mirror can be used a system that produces a real image when every definition basically says "no flat mirrors in a real image system"?

This was where you went wrong. I have never read this in any textbook. The connection between real / virtual has nothing, fundamentally, to do with mirrors or no mirrors.
 

1. What is the difference between a real and a virtual image?

A real image is formed by the actual convergence of light rays at a specific point, whereas a virtual image is formed by the apparent divergence of light rays. Real images can be projected onto a screen, while virtual images cannot.

2. How can you tell if an image is real or virtual?

To determine if an image is real or virtual, you can use a converging lens or concave mirror to project the image onto a screen. If the image appears on the same side of the lens or mirror as the object, it is a real image. If the image appears on the opposite side, it is a virtual image.

3. What are some common examples of real and virtual images?

A common example of a real image is the image formed by a magnifying glass, where the light rays converge to form a larger image. An example of a virtual image is the image seen in a flat mirror, where the light rays appear to diverge and the image appears behind the mirror.

4. Can virtual images be magnified or reduced?

Virtual images cannot be magnified or reduced, as they do not physically exist. They only appear to be a certain size due to the apparent divergence of light rays. Real images, on the other hand, can be magnified or reduced using lenses or mirrors.

5. How are real and virtual images used in everyday life?

Real and virtual images are used in various technologies and devices, such as cameras, microscopes, telescopes, and glasses. They are also used in entertainment, such as 3D movies and virtual reality experiences. Additionally, real and virtual images are used in science experiments and simulations to study and understand the behavior of light rays.

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