What Are the Optical Illusions Created by Mirrors?

TL;DR

Convex and concave mirrors can produce similar reflections despite their opposite shapes, leading to intriguing optical illusions. When an object is viewed in these mirrors, its appearance can change due to the way light is reflected; for instance, an arrow can appear to reverse direction depending on the type of mirror used. A simple experiment using cookie cutters demonstrates these effects effectively.

Transcript

Tadashi: So here's a mirror of sorts, it's curved. And in front of this mirror, I put this rectangular sheet (with something drawn on it). And when you put it in front of the mirror and look inside the mirror you see a cat. You know, with pointy ears and side protrusions that look like whiskers and everything. So, I am very happy with this cat. I'm... Read More

Key Insights

• 🪩 Convex and concave mirrors can create similar reflections, despite their opposite shapes.
• 🥇 The direction of an object's reflection can change depending on whether it is placed in a convex or concave mirror.
• 💠 Moving an object inside a mirror can lead to changes in its shape, blurring, and the eventual appearance of a real image.
• 🥠 Cookie cutters can serve as makeshift cylindrical mirrors for simple experiments.
• 🙈 The reflections seen in mirrors are a result of single reflections, not multiple bounces.
• 🪩 Convex and concave mirrors can distort images but still maintain similarities in their reflections.
• 🙂 Exploring the properties of mirrors can lead to interesting optical illusions and insights into how light behaves.

Questions & Answers

Q: How is the reflection in a convex mirror different from a concave mirror?

The reflection in a convex mirror bulges out towards the viewer, while the reflection in a concave mirror bulges away from the viewer. Despite their opposite shapes, the reflections can still look very similar.

Q: How many reflections are bouncing off before reaching our eyes?

It is just one reflection. The light reflects on the back side of the mirror and then comes out, resulting in the image seen by the viewer.

Q: Why does the arrow's direction change in the concave mirror?

The arrow's direction changes because of the center of focus. In the convex mirror, the arrow maintains its left to right direction, but in the concave mirror, it reverses and points from right to left.

Q: How did Tadashi create a cylindrical mirror for his experiment?

Tadashi used a cylindrical-shaped cookie cutter as a makeshift cylindrical mirror. He found it in a shopping center, allowing him to demonstrate the concept of a cat in the mirror.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Tadashi demonstrates a convex mirror and a concave mirror, both creating reflections of a cat, despite their opposite shapes.

• The reflection in the convex mirror looks very similar to the reflection in the concave mirror, highlighting an interesting distortion effect.

• By moving the arrow inside the mirror, its shape and direction change, leading to a blurred image and eventually the real image next to the original arrow.