Draw a ray diagram to explain the formation of a virtual image of a point source of light in a plane mirror
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Draw a ray diagram to explain the formation of a virtual image of a point source of light in a plane mirror
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Answer:
Consider a point source of light O placed in front of a plane mirror MM'. a ray of light OA coming from O in incident at point A on the mirror and gets reflected in the direction AX according to the laws of reflection of light. Another ray of light OB coming from O strikes the mirror at point B and gets reflected in the direction BY. Rays AX and BY, on producing backwards, meet at point I behind the mirror; which is the image of point source O.
Characteristics of image formed in a plane mirror:
(i) The image formed in a plane mirror is virtual. It cannot be received on a screen.
(ii) The image formed in a plane mirror is erect. It is the same side up as the object.
(iii) The image in a plane mirror is of the same size as the object.
(iv) The image formed by a plane mirror is at the same distance behind the mirror as the object is in front of the mirror.
(v) The image formed by a plane mirror is laterally inverted.