Question

Suppose your height is \(2.00 \mathrm{~m}\) and you are standing \(50.0 \mathrm{~cm}\) in front of a plane mirror. a) What is the image distance? b) What is the image height? c) Is the image inverted or upright? d) Is the image real or virtual?

Short answer

b) What is the image height? c) Is the image inverted or upright? d) Is the image real or virtual? Answer: a) The image distance is 0.50 meters. b) The image height is 2.00 meters. c) The image is upright. d) The image is virtual.

Step-by-step solution

Convert the given distance to meters or a uniform unit

The distance between the person and the mirror should be converted to meters for uniformity. In this case, \(50.0 \mathrm{~cm}\) is equal to \(0.50 \mathrm{~m}\).

Determine the image distance

For a plane mirror, the image distance is always equal to the object distance. So, the image distance is \(0.50 \mathrm{~m}\). Answer to (a): The image distance is \(0.50 \mathrm{~m}\).

Determine the image height

The image formed by a plane mirror is an exact reflection of the object; therefore, the image height will be the same as the object's height. In this case, the image height is \(2.00 \mathrm{~m}\). Answer to (b): The image height is \(2.00 \mathrm{~m}\).

Determine if the image is inverted or upright

In a plane mirror, the image formed is always upright because there is no inversion of the object. The top part of the object remains at the top, and the bottom part remains at the bottom. Answer to (c): The image is upright.

Determine if the image is real or virtual

An image is real if it can be projected onto a screen, and virtual if it cannot be projected onto a screen and can only be seen through a reflecting or refracting device (like a mirror or a lens). In the case of a plane mirror, the image formed is always virtual since it cannot be projected onto a screen. Answer to (d): The image is virtual.