What is the Difference Between Real and Virtual Images Formed by Mirrors?

[zainahmed1994]

concave mirror make real and inverted image which means that the image can be obtained on the screen and on the contrary convex mirror makes virtual and erect image and it can't be obtained on screen..i can see that the images made by them are inverted and erect respectively but both the images are obtained on the mirror, so what is meant by real image is obtained on screen??

 

[Doc Al]

concave mirror make real and inverted image which means that the image can be obtained on the screen and on the contrary convex mirror makes virtual and erect image and it can't be obtained on screen..i can see that the images made by them are inverted and erect respectively but both the images are obtained on the mirror, so what is meant by real image is obtained on screen??

Real images are actually in front of the mirror, while virtual images appear inside the mirror. With a real image, the light actually converges at the site of the image, which allows you to display it on a screen.

 

[Trexman89]

If you put a screen where the light converges for a real image, you will see the image, that's why it is referred to as "real". Virtual images don't actually exist outside of your mind. Your brain is being tricked by perspective into thinking that there is something on the otherside of the mirror, when there is nothing there.

 

[JDługosz]

It was explained to me that you can use a magnifying glass or other optics on a "real" image and it works the same as an object at that location.

 

[Doc Al]

It was explained to me that you can use a magnifying glass or other optics on a "real" image and it works the same as an object at that location.

Why would that be any less true for a virtual image? (Of course, you have to place the optics so as to intercept the light from the virtual image.)