Why does the size of an image in a plane mirror not change when drawn on paper?

AI Thread Summary
The size of an image in a plane mirror appears unchanged when drawn on paper, despite the object's distance. When an object moves away from the mirror, the image seems smaller due to the increased distance, but the actual size remains constant. The image appears to be the same distance behind the mirror as the object is in front. Observing a distant object in a mirror shows that the size appears consistent, while closer objects seem smaller. Thus, the perception of size is influenced by the apparent distance from the mirror.
Puneeth423
Messages
51
Reaction score
0
When an object is moved away from a plane mirror, its size decrease when seen in the mirror. But, when we draw image on paper for an object in different positions in a plane mirror, the size of the image doesn't seem to change. Why? Will the size change or not?
 
Science news on Phys.org
The size of the image doesn't change, but it looks smaller since it is farther away.
 
The image in a (plane) mirror will appear to be the same distance behind the mirror as the object is in front of the mirror. Stand near a mirror and look at a distant object and then at its image. They will appear pretty much the same size.
Stand by the same object and look at its image in the same mirror and the image will look much smaller than the object.
Size and (apparent) distance 'go together'.
 
Thread 'A quartet of epi-illumination methods'

Thread 'A quartet of epi-illumination methods'

Well, it took almost 20 years (!!!), but I finally obtained a set of epi-phase microscope objectives (Zeiss). The principles of epi-phase contrast is nearly identical to transillumination phase contrast, but the phase ring is a 1/8 wave retarder rather than a 1/4 wave retarder (because with epi-illumination, the light passes through the ring twice). This method was popular only for a very short period of time before epi-DIC (differential interference contrast) became widely available. So...
View full post »

Thread 'Effective absorption coefficient of gold nanoparticles'

I am currently undertaking a research internship where I am modelling the heating of silicon wafers with a 515 nm femtosecond laser. In order to increase the absorption of the laser into the oxide layer on top of the wafer it was suggested we use gold nanoparticles. I was tasked with modelling the optical properties of a 5nm gold nanoparticle, in particular the absorption cross section, using COMSOL Multiphysics. My model seems to be getting correct values for the absorption coefficient and...
View full post »

Similar threads

I Understanding magnification of concave mirrors for near-eye situation?
Replies
11
Views
2K
Optics question: Looking at mirrors from parallel to the surface
Replies
6
Views
2K
Understanding Reflection of Light on a Concave Mirror
4
Replies
172
Views
19K
I Image appears outside of q -- Lens Maker's Equation confusion
Replies
17
Views
3K
I Why do we always see interference pattern in Michelson interferometer?
Replies
9
Views
3K
Depth effect in mirror reflections
Replies
24
Views
16K
Reflection from a small spherical mirror
Replies
9
Views
2K
Imaging by cylindrical concave mirror
Replies
18
Views
6K
Real image appears in front of the mirror?
Replies
17
Views
8K
A The coherence length is much longer than the manufacturer claims
Replies
10
Views
2K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top