2006-06-14 13:13:27 · 6 answers · asked by †ђ!ηK †αηK² 6 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Lay on your side and the mirror flips things up and down. That may give you a hint that the symmetry is associated with your eyes being placed on a horizontal plane when standing. The orientation of the flip, per se, is all in your head (well, the construction of your head).
2006-06-14 13:23:50 · answer #1 · answered by Karman V 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is a duplicate of this question later. Here's my answer from that question:
This is an interesting question and it occupied my mind for hours here and there. Here's the answer:
(Regular flat) mirrors don't reverse anything. They reflect straight back whatever hits the surface.
Left to right seem reversed because of the nature of written words. They go from left to right and we're reading it the wrong way in the mirror.
Top to bottom seem okay because reading has no meaning in that direction.
This is hard to grasp so think of it this way. Look at a sentence on a paper in the mirror. then look at it with the sentence vertical (ie: turn it 90 degrees either way) and you'll find that it still looks backwards (TOP TO BOTTOM).
The direction that makes sense and is direction-dependent is the direction of writing.
I hope I haven't confused you as much as myself. It makes sense in a way.
2006-06-15 01:37:48 · answer #2 · answered by jaygysler 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Place a mirror in front of a screen. Stand at the center of the screen. On the left extreme of the screen place some object A. Place another object B at the right extreme of the screen.
Join the object A and its image A in the mirror by an imaginary line. Similarly join the image of B with the object B.
If left and right are inter changed, then these two lines will intersect with each other.
But these two lines do not intersect with each other, showing that left and right are not interchanged.
Similarly the line joining of your left hand and image of left hand do not intersect with the line joining your right hand and image of the right hand do not intersect, showing that the left and right are not interchanged.
We imagine our image as real person and compare the left and right of the image with us. Actually there is no left and right inter-change.
2006-06-14 21:25:45 · answer #3 · answered by Pearlsawme 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can get an upside-down image if you stand in front of a concave mirror (i.e. one curved inwards), or look into a spoon.
To see your own face as others see you, place two ordinary mirrors at right angles to each other.
2006-06-15 06:17:52 · answer #4 · answered by Robert C 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They don't. It only looks that way from your perspective.
What you see in the mirror is how others see you.
2006-06-14 20:19:07 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
its not th mirror.its your retina that crosses the image.
2006-06-14 21:19:02 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋