PURPOSE: To demonstrate that a plane mirror does not produce a left-to-right inversion.

DESCRIPTION: A transparency with the word LIGHT in box letters is held in front of a plane mirror. Q: How will the image appear in the in the mirror: (a) inverted up-down, (b) inverted left-right, (c) inverted front-back, or (d) not inverted at all.

A: The word LIGHT is in the proper orientation in both the original transparency and its image in the plane mirror, indicating that the mirror does not produce a left-to-right inversion! Actually, it is inverted front-to-back, but since it is transparent that doesn't make any difference. Click on the photograph above to check this result! Note that the hand is inverted front-to-back!!

SUGGESTIONS: See Question of the Week #19 for information on using this demonstration to enhance class involvement.

REFERENCES: (PIRA unknown.)

EQUIPMENT: Mirror with transparency of LIGHT.

SETUP TIME: None.