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Everything that we can see in the world is processed by our minds as images. Real images and virtual images are the two forms of images. A virtual picture is one that is made by the divergence of light beams, whereas a real image is one that is formed by the convergence of light rays. After being reflected or refracted by a mirror or lens, light rays converge and diverge. Converging lenses, often referred to as concave lenses, are used to create real images. Diverging lenses, i.e. convex lenses, form the virtual image.
Real Image
An actual picture is one generated by the convergence of light beams after they have been reflected or refracted by a mirror or lens. A screen must be set in order to see an actual image, so that the image can be generated on it.
The light source and the screen must be in the same plane to obtain a true image. The size of the true picture created is entirely determined by the distance between the mirror and the lens. Light rays actually converge in a true image, as evidenced by the fact that the image can be displayed on a screen. Light rays diverge in distinct directions from a fixed location after converging at that point.
A candle is positioned in front of a converging lens as an example. The light rays travel from the item, such as a candle, to the lens, where they begin to reflect. All of the light rays will converge at a single point, following which they will diverge and travel in different directions.
Virtual Image
The divergence of light rays after reflecting or refracting from a mirror or lens creates a virtual image.
A virtual image is a made-up or imagined image that it does not exist in the real world. As light beams strike the mirror, they diverge, with the assumption that they will converge someplace beyond the mirror. Because no actual image is generated, a virtual image is created. Since the light rays are not converging, the image can never be displayed on a screen. In contrast to actual images, in which light rays truly converge and the image may be displayed on a screen. The result is an inverse image.
A candle is placed in front of a divergent or convex lens as an example. Whenever light rays from an item, such as a candle, reach the mirror or lens, they diverge in all directions, creating a virtual image that appears to be there on the opposite side of the mirror or lens.
Plane mirror
Any mirror with something like a flat reflective surface is referred to as a plane mirror. Plane mirrors reflect light at the exact angle it strikes them, resulting in very little, if there is any, image distortion. A plane mirror is the type of mirror you have in your bathroom.
Obviously, the image you perceive in a plane mirror is not an actual, physical item. This is referred to as a virtual image by scientists. The virtual image will alter depending on the object’s or observer’s distance and angle from the mirror.
Virtual image formed in a plane mirror
You only need to go to the nearby bathroom to see an example of how a mirror may create an image. In a plane mirror, the image is the same size as the item, it is placed behind the mirror, and it is orientated in the same direction as that of the object (i.e., “upright”).
Consider the following scenario to better understand how this occurs (Figure). Two rays come from point P, impact the mirror, and reflect into the eye of the observer. The reflected beams are constructed using the law of reflection. The reflected rays appear to originate from point Q when they are carried backward behind the mirror (note dashed lines in (Figure)). That’s where you’ll find the image of point P. We get the image of point P prime at point Q prime if we repeat the operation for point P prime. You should be able to convince yourself that the picture height (the distance from Q to Q prime) is like the object height (the distance from P to P prime) using fundamental geometry. We obtain a picture of the item by creating images of all of its points.
A flat mirror reflects two light rays starting from point P on an item into the observer’s eye. The law of reflection is used to acquire the reflected rays. When these reflected rays are extended backwards, they appear to originate from point Q behind the mirror, that’s where the virtual picture is placed. The image point Q prime is obtained by continuing the method for point P prime. As a result, the image height matches the object height, the image is upright, and the object distance d text(o) matches the image distance d text(i).
The reflected rays appear to come directly from the image behind the mirror to the spectator. In actuality, these rays originate from the reflection points on the mirror. Because the image behind the mirror cannot be displayed onto a screen, it is referred to as a virtual image since the rays only appear to originate from a single point behind the mirror. You can not see the image if you step behind the mirror since the rays do not reach there. The rays behave as when they are coming from behind the mirror in front of the mirror, thus and that’s where the virtual image is located.
Conclusion
An actual picture is one generated by the convergence of light beams after they have been reflected or refracted by a mirror or lens. A screen must be set in order to see an actual image, so that the image can be generated on it. A virtual image is a made-up or imagined image that it does not exist in the real world. As light beams strike the mirror, they diverge, with the assumption that they will converge someplace beyond the mirror.
