The image seen in a plane mirror is located
A. at the surface of the mirror
B. behind the mirror
C. in front of the mirror
D. at the position of the object
The correct answer and explanation is :
Correct Answer: B. Behind the mirror
Explanation:
In the case of a plane mirror, the image formed is a virtual image. This means that the image cannot be projected onto a screen because the light rays do not actually converge at the image location; instead, they only appear to do so.
When you stand in front of a plane mirror and look at your reflection, your eyes perceive light rays that seem to come from a point behind the mirror. However, no light actually travels behind the mirror—it only appears that way due to the way the light rays reflect.
Here’s how it works:
- According to the law of reflection, the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.
- The light rays coming from an object hit the surface of the mirror and reflect back.
- Your eyes trace these reflected rays backward in a straight line, and they seem to meet at a point behind the mirror.
- That point is where the virtual image is formed.
The image formed by a plane mirror has several characteristics:
- Virtual: It cannot be projected on a screen because the light rays don’t actually meet.
- Upright: It has the same orientation as the object.
- Laterally inverted: The left and right sides are reversed.
- Same size: The image is the same size as the object.
- Same distance behind the mirror as the object is in front of it.
So, while the mirror surface is the physical boundary, the virtual image appears to be located equally far behind the mirror as the actual object is in front of it. This is why the correct answer is B. Behind the mirror.