If you look into the front side of a shiny spoon, you will see an inverted image of yourself. If you look into the back side of the spoon your image is upright. Why is this?
2006-07-30 12:33:23 · 5 answers · asked by lady_bugs_2000 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
I myself know the answer, just wanted to see if peole are using their brains out there...SMILE
2006-07-30 12:41:54 · update #1
A good question deserves a simple answer.
In the case of the face of the spoon (where you keep the liquid) the light from the top of the spoon is reflected downward and just the opposite from the bottom of the spoon. At the point you can actually see the image in your eye the image appears upside down because of that.
On the other side of the spoon, the light is reflected up on the top and down on the bottom and the only image you see is a small one right in the middle.
Dah Dude
2006-07-30 12:45:07 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Both sides of the spoon act like curved mirrors. The convex side produces a virtual image which is upright and apparently behind the surface, the concave side (so long as you are far enough away, ie not within its focal length) produces an inverted real image which seems to exist in front of the surface. If you are within the focal distance of the concave side, you'll get a magnified, upright, virtual image.
Why? Fundamentally, because light reflects from shiny surfaces as if it were trying to minimize the total distance from object to mirror to eye. This means that it reflects with equal angles from the planes tangent to the (approximate) point from which it reflects on the surface (Heron of Alexandria). The shape of the surface thereby determines the properties of the image.
Why is this answer written so snarkily? Because you claim to be testing us.
2006-07-30 12:51:16 · answer #2 · answered by Benjamin N 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Basicly, the front side tip of the spoon is reflecting what it is pointing directly at which is your stomach area. The bottom is reflecting the same but it is reflecting the top of your head.
The backside reflects the light in the same manner, but is reflecting your image in every direction away from you except the part the is directly facing you which would be dead center of your view..
2006-07-30 12:44:25 · answer #3 · answered by billydeer_2000 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because the shape of the spoon bends the light when the bowl of the spoon is facing you
2006-07-30 12:37:44 · answer #4 · answered by nas88car300 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
convex mirror verses concave mirror read your physics book.(it has to do with the way light reflects off of the surfaces.)
2006-07-30 12:38:28 · answer #5 · answered by Daniel H 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋