Term for mirror image sides shift

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The original poster seeks the technical term for the phenomenon where a mirror image appears to flip sides, specifically when raising an arm in front of a mirror. This inquiry relates to the concepts of reflection and symmetry in physics.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore various terms related to the flipping of sides in mirror images, including suggestions like "lateral inversion" and "left-right reversal." There is also a discussion about the original poster's language and how it translates to English.

Discussion Status

Several terms have been proposed, but there is no clear consensus on the most appropriate terminology. Participants are actively engaging with the question and providing resources, though the original poster indicates that some suggestions do not meet their needs.

Contextual Notes

The original poster mentions having studied physics in a non-English medium, which may affect their understanding of terminology in English. There is also a reference to the limitations of translation tools for their language, Sinhala.

Knightycloud
Messages
86
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


I've done physics in a non-english medium and I want to know what is the technical term to call the incident where the image is flipped vertical through a mirror. I mean if we stand infront of a mirror and raise the right arm, the mirror image shows we're raising the left arm. What is this incident called?


Homework Equations


-


The Attempt at a Solution


in my language it's called 'Parshvika apawarthanaya'
somehow translated to English, it's like 'Partial ...'
 

Attachments

  • Mirror.jpg
    Mirror.jpg
    15 KB · Views: 473
Physics news on Phys.org
Thanks! But that's not what I'm looking for! :( something like 'flipping sides'??
 
My language is 'Sinhala'. Google doesn't support! Not that point reflection either! :( I'm asking when looking through a mirror, sides are flipped right? What is the physics term for that incident?

Like, "Bending of light rays when passing through a surface between one transparent material and another, is called Refraction
 
The technical term for that is "reflection": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reflection_(mathematics ).
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Do you mean "lateral inversion"? The adjective form is "laterally inverted".
 
Knightycloud said:

Homework Statement


I've done physics in a non-english medium and I want to know what is the technical term to call the incident where the image is flipped vertical through a mirror. I mean if we stand infront of a mirror and raise the right arm, the mirror image shows we're raising the left arm. What is this incident called?

This is termed as "left-right reversal"
 

Similar threads

Replies
1
Views
7K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
6K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
4K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
4K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
9K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
7K
  • Sticky
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
72K