10

SCIENCE Module

IMAGE FORMED BY PLANE

MIRRORS

Module in Grade 10 ScienceImage Formed by a Plane Mirror

OVERVIEW

Mirrors are smooth reflecting surfaces, usually made up of polished metal or

glass that has been coated with some metallic substance. Mirrors can be a flat or
curved.

Did you look into a mirror this morning to comb your hair or put some face
powder? If you did, you probably used a plane mirror. A mirror with a flat surface is
called a plane mirror. How are images formed in this kind of mirror?

This module will help you determine the characteristics of the image formed
by plane mirrors.
Multiple Choice. Choose the letter of the best answer.

1. What happens to light when it strikes a plane mirror?

A. It is scattered.
B. It is refracted.
C. It is regularly reflected.
LET’S CHECK YOUR PRIOR KNOWLEDGE!
D. It is irregularly reflected.

2. If you stand three feet in front of a plane mirror, how far away would you see yourself
in the mirror?

A. 1.5 ft. C. 6.0 ft.

B. 3.0 ft. D. 12.0 ft.

3. A girl wearing white t-shirt that displays the word MIMI is standing in front of a plane
mirror? How will you read the word when viewed from a plane mirror?

A. WIWI C. IMIM

B. IWIW D. MIMI .

4. A 40 cm tall object is placed in front of a plane mirror. How tall will the image be?

A. 10 cm C. 30 cm

B. 20 cm D. 40 cm

5. Which of the following best describes the image formed by a plane mirror?
A. Virtual, inverted and enlarged
B. Real, inverted and reduced

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 C. Virtual, upright and the same size as the object
D. Real, upright and the same size as the object

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN FROM THIS

MODULE?

After reading this module, you should be able to:

Predict the qualitative characteristics (orientation, type, and magnification) of

images formed by plane and curved mirrors and lenses.

Specifically, you should be able to:

Give the qualitative characteristics of the image formed by plane mirror.

CURRICULUM GUIDE REFERENCE CODE AND DURATION

Curriculum Guide Reference Code No: S10FE-IIg-50

Suggested Time Duration: 1 Hour

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 LET’S LEARN!

IMAGE FORMED BY PLANE MIRRORS

Mirror is an optical device with a surface, typically made of glass coated with a
metal amalgam (aluminum or silver coating), which reflects a clear image.
There are two types of Mirrors: the plane mirrors and the curved or spherical
mirrors. A Plane mirror is a flat sheet of glass that has a smooth, silver-colored coating
on one side. Often the coating is on the back of the mirror to protect it from damage.
When light strikes a mirror, the coating reflects the light. Because the coating is smooth,
regular reflection occurs and a clear image forms. An image is a copy of an object
formed by reflected or refracted rays of light. What kind of image is formed by the plane
mirrors?

The following are the qualitative characteristics of images formed by plane

mirrors.

1. VIRTUAL IMAGE

The images reflected by a plane mirror are known as "virtual images" – but
they're different than the simulated digital images you can see on your computer screen
or in a video game. In physics, the difference between a real vs. virtual image is that a
real image is formed when light converges at a point – like when you look at a ripe
guava on your desk – whereas a virtual image is formed from two divergent rays of light

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that never meet. In simple terms, a plane mirror creates an image of an object you
cannot touch. Virtual image is an upright image that forms where light seems to come
from. The image seems to appear behind the mirror and cannot be projected onto the
screen. All mirrors create virtual images in this manner, but plane mirrors reflect light
differently than concave or convex mirrors do.

The picture below shows how a virtual image looks like.

Figure 1. The image of a drinking bottle is upright and seems to appear behind the mirror.

2. LATERALLY REVERSED

The second characteristic has to do with the orientation of the image. If you
view an image of yourself in a plane mirror, you will quickly notice that there is an
apparent left-right reversal of the image. That is, if you raise your left hand, you will
notice that the image raises what would seem to be it is right hand. If you raise your
right hand, the image raises what would seem to be it is left hand. This is often
termed laterally reversed or left-right reversal. This characteristic becomes even
more obvious if you wear a shirt with lettering. For example, a shirt displaying the word
CUTE will read "ETUC" when viewed in the mirror.
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 Figure 2. The image of a mutant ninja turtle raises its left hand as viewed in the mirror

3. THE SAME DISTANCE AS THE OBJECT

The third characteristic of plane mirror images refers to the object distance to the
mirror relative to the image distance to the mirror. For plane mirrors, the object distance
(often represented by the symbol do) is equal to the image distance (often represented
by the symbol di). That is the image is the same distance behind the mirror as the object
is in front of the mirror or the image is equidistant to the object. If you stand a distance

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of 1 meter from a plane mirror, your image is located 1 meter behind the mirror. Refer to
the picture below.

Figure 3. The object and the image are equidistant to each other

4. THE SAME SIZE AS THE OBJECT

The fourth and final characteristic of plane mirror images is that the size of the
image are the same as the size of the object. If a 1.6-meter tall person stands in front of
a mirror, he/she will see an image that is 1.6-meters tall. If a one peso coin with a
diameter of 2.3 cm is placed in front of a plane mirror, the image of the peso coin has a
diameter of 2.3 cm. The ratio of the image dimensions to the object dimensions is
termed the magnification. Plane mirrors have magnification of 1. Look at the image of
a one peso as seen in the picture below.

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 Figure 3.The image of a one peso coin

LET’S TRY TO DO THIS!

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Mirror Image

1. Stand in front
 EXTERNAL LINKS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwBK_cXUTZI

https://www.slideshare.net/neenaharidas1/formation-of-image-in-a-plane-mirror

LET’S SUM UP!

What kind of image is formed by plane mirrors? A plane mirror produces a virtual
image that is upright, the same distance as the object placed in front of the mirror and
the same size as the object. But the image is not quite the same size as the object. The
left and right of the image are reversed or the image is laterally-reversed. For example,
when you look in a mirror, your right hand appears to be a left hand in the image. This is
the reason why the word “AMBULANCE” is written backwards and are reversed in
sequence so that they appear in the proper orientation and order when seen in a rear
view mirror.

The image you see in a plane mirror is virtual - an upright image that forms
where light seems to come from. “Virtual” describes something that does not really
exist. Your image appears to be behind the mirror, but you cannot reach behind the
mirror and touch it. This image cannot be projected onto the screen.

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 LET’S CHECK HOW MUCH YOU HAVE
LEARNED!

Multiple Choice. Write the letter of the best answer.

1. A man stands two meters away from a plane mirror. How far is it from the man to his
image?  

A. 2.0 m C. 4.0 m

B. 3.0 m D. 5.0 m

2. If the flame on the candle is 2 cm tall, how tall is the flame of the image? 
A. 1 cm C. 3 cm
B. 2 cm D. 4 cm

3. When the image of an object is seen in a plane mirror, the image is

A. Real and upright C. Real and Inverted

B. Virtual and upright D. Virtual and inverted

4. What type of reflection occurs when light strikes a plane mirror?

A. Partial Reflection C. Regular Reflection

B. Irregular Reflection D. Total Internal Reflection

5. How would you read the word MIMI when placed in front of a plane mirror?

A. WIWI C. MIMI

B. IWIW D. IMIM

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 ANSWER KEY

A. Let’s check your prior knowledge

1. C 2. B 3. B 4. D 5. B

B. Let’s try to do this

2. My image size is the same as my actual size.

3. My image also moved towards the mirror. My image distance is the same as my
distance from the mirror. When I moved away from the mirror, my image also moved
way.

4. My image’s left hand raises.

5. The image formed by a plane mirror is the same size as the object, as far behind the
mirror as the object is in front; virtual and upright but laterally inverted or left-right
reversed.

C. Let’s check how much you have learned

1. A 2. B 3. B 4. A 5. D

REFERENCES

Acosta, Herma D, Alvarez Liza A, Garcia, Aurelia S., et. Al. Department of EducatIon-
Instructional Materials Council Secretariat (DepEd-IMCS). First Edition 2015.
Grade 10 Science Learner’s Materials. Pasig City:

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Acosta, Herma D, Alvarez Liza A, Garcia, Aurelia S., et. Al. Department of Education-
Instructional Materials Council Secretariat (DepEd-IMCS). First Edition 2015.
Grade 10 Science Teacher’s Guide. Pasig City.

Bentillo, Eulalia N., Nalda, Nora F., Salvaleon, Leah L. et. Al. Science and Technology
IV Physics Textbook. Reprint Edition. 2009. Mandaluyong City:Book Media
Press, Inc..
https://sciencing.com/plane-mirror-5103685.html
https://lrmds.deped.gov.ph/create/detail/598

METADATA

Title Image Formed by Plane Mirrors

Language English

Keywords S10FE-IIg-50

Description predict the qualitative characteristics (orientation, type, and

magnification) of images formed by plane and curved mirrors
and lenses
Primary Media Print Material

Primary storage Flash drive, CD

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Resource Location Department of Education
Region VI- Western Visayas
Division of Aklan
District of Madalag
Madalag National High School

Developer JENALYN N. NACASABUG

Teacher III

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