Why does a mirror invert an image left to right, but not up and down? Just wondering.?

Answer 1

The mirror does not invert an image left to right (or vice versa). When you look in the mirror, our left is still on the left side of the mirror.

For example, lets say I place a red dot on my left cheek. I then look at the mirror. In the mirror image, does the red dot jump to the right side of the mirror? It does not, it is still on the left.

Here's where it's a little confusing, but bear with me. Some people will then argue that what we see as the left side of the mirror is the mirror's right. However, if we were to turn the mirror around so its left matched our left, we will not get the reflection anymore because the mirror's reflection is not facing us anymore. Therefore, it would make the question null becuse there's no reflection to talk about.

So, the reflecting side of the mirror must face us, and our left will always show up on the left side what we see on the mirror.

Answer 2

Mirror does not invert images left to right.

In the wall in front of the mirror, mark two letters ‘A’ and ‘B’ at the two extremes.

Now draw two perpendicular lines from A and B to the images of A and B seen in the mirror.

The two lines do not intersect each other. If left is inverted to right, then the lines should cross each other as in X.

Answer 3

the mirror doesn't invert left to right, it just reflects the light array, therefor the left looks as if it is a right of a person standing behind the mirror. if you walk into a room where the floor is mirror, or highly shiny, you can notice that the image actually looks as if it's been inverted up and down. again it doesn't invert the image it just a reflection of light.

Answer 4

Who told you it doesn't ??? The plane mirror does not turn images upside down but spherical ones (concave/convex) do.

Answer 5

ask ur physics teacher!!