PLANE MIRROR

- a flat, two-dimensional surface that reflects light coming from or reflecting off another object.
- Mathematically, the focal length of a plane mirror is infinite

HISTORY OF MIRROR
 Water Mirror (Ancient Times)
- Earliest prototype of mirrors.
- Water surface is used by people during the ancient times to see their reflection.
 Obsidian Mirror (8000 BCE)
- First solid mirror recorded in the history.
- Made from polished obsidian rocks produced by active volcanoes.
- Used by rich people as small ornaments.
- Due to its color (black), this mirror is associated with black magic
 Bronze Mirror (3000-2000 BCE)
- First used in China and Egypt.
- Unlike obsidian, bronze mirrors are more accessible and lightweight which make them a perfect
handheld mirror during this time.
 Mercury Mirror (15th-16th Century)
- First used in Venice, Italy.
- Serves as the prototype of mirrors.
- A thin-cut glass is coated with alloy of tin and mercury to create a reflective surface.
- Despite being highly reflective, it is highly dangerous for a human to be exposed with mercury
every day. Because of that, mercury mirrors were discontinued.
 Silver Mirror (19th Century- Present)
- Justus von Liebig, a German Chemist, used silver coating as an alternative to mercury.
- Silver is boiled into a liquid, and then a thin uniform coating is applied to the glass.
- Liquid silver is also sprayed to the glass then polished to avoid debris and deformities.
- Silver is highly oxidative so a thick copper paint is applied at the back of the mirror to minimize
the change in color overtime.
 Aluminum Mirror (Present)
- Aluminum sheets are directly attached in glasses through vacuum.
- Unlike silver, aluminum doesn’t tarnish but still emits clear reflections.

LAW OF PLANE MIRRORS

“The image is always the same distance behind the mirror as the object is in front of the mirror.”
In mathematical equation, it is written as: d 0 =ⅆ i
where,
d 0 - distance of the object from the mirror

ⅆi - distance of the image behind the mirror.

- distance of the object - distance of the image behind

from the mirror the mirror.

Object Image
Mirror
Figure 1. Law of Plane Mirror
CHARACTERISTICS OF IMAGE FORMED BY PLANE MIRROR
The following are the characteristics formed by a plane mirror:
1. Image is virtual.
2. Image formed is the same size as the object (h 0=hi)
3. Has the same orientation as the object but laterally inverted.
4. Same distance from the mirror as the object (d 0 =ⅆ i)
hi
5. Magnification is always equal to one. (m= = 1)
h0

REFLECTION
- refers to a property of light from which light waves bounce off from a reflecting surface.
- the image we see that is formed when light rays that strike through a mirror are being reflected
back from the mirror.
The two types of reflection are as follows:
1. Specular Reflection (Regular Reflection)
- light reflected from a smooth surface such as plane mirror, at a definite angle.
Examples: Reflection of light on plane mirrors and calm body of water.

Figure 2. Regular Reflection on a Smooth Surface

In this diagram, light rays strike and being reflected in one specific direction. This is because the
surface from which light rays bounce off is free of any debris and deformities. As a result, the image
formed in a plane mirror is the exact replica of the object.

2. Diffused Reflection (Irregular Reflection)

- reflection of light from a rough surface that tend to reflect light in all directions.
Examples: Reflection of light on rough surfaces such as clothing, paper, wavy water, and the
asphalt roadway.

Figure 3. Irregular Reflection on a Rough Surface

Figure 3 shows how light rays strike through a rough surface and being reflected in different
directions. This is because of the irregularities of the surface. Since the reflecting surface is not stable,
the rays of light are being reflected in all directions thus creating irregularities in image formed in the
reflective surface.
MIRROR LEFT-RIGHT REVERSAL
- also known as “Lateral Inversion.”
- Phenomenon from which the left side of the image seems to be the right side of the object, and
the right side of the image appears to be the left side of the image.
Examples:
A man touches his face with his right hand in front of the mirror but it appears that his reflection in
the mirror uses its left hand to touch its face.
The letters in front of the ambulance are written in a laterally inverted manner. As a result, when
drivers of another vehicle see the letters in their mirror, these will get inverted, thus, letting the
driver read the word properly.