When you see your reflection in a flat (plane) mirror, the process of image formation follows certain predictable rules. Here’s how it works in detail:
1. Nature of Plane Mirrors: A plane mirror is a flat reflective surface. The law of reflection states that the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection. This means that the reflection preserves the size and orientation of the image.
2. Image Characteristics: The image formed by a plane mirror possesses several characteristics - it is virtual (cannot be projected onto a screen), upright, laterally inverted (the left and right are reversed), and importantly, the same size as the object.
3. Distance and Size Relationship: The distance of the image behind the mirror is the same as the distance of the object in front of the mirror. This distance preservation ensures that there is no distortion in size.
In conclusion, reflecting on these principles, we can determine that the size of the image in a plane mirror is the same as the size of the object. This corresponds to:
OC. The image is the same size.
