Which statement is true about virtual images produced by plane mirrors?

Which statement is true about virtual images produced by plane mirrors?

• A. They cannot be projected on a screen
• B. They can be projected on a screen
• C. They are inverted
• D. They are formed only by curved surfaces

Answer: (A)

Plane mirrors create virtual images behind the mirror. Because the reflected rays don’t actually meet at the image location, you can’t project it onto a screen—the light only appears to originate from behind the mirror. The image is upright and the same size as the object, which helps explain why it isn’t a real projected image. Also, plane mirrors are flat surfaces; they don’t require curves to form an image. Curved mirrors can produce both real and virtual images, but that’s a different situation.

Plane mirrors create virtual images behind the mirror. Because the reflected rays don’t actually meet at the image location, you can’t project it onto a screen—the light only appears to originate from behind the mirror. The image is upright and the same size as the object, which helps explain why it isn’t a real projected image. Also, plane mirrors are flat surfaces; they don’t require curves to form an image. Curved mirrors can produce both real and virtual images, but that’s a different situation.