Question

What is the difference between looking at a photograph of your face and looking at yourself in a plane mirror?

Answer 1

Hint: In order to know about this, let us see about different forms of an image and also about lateral inversion. There are two different forms of an image which are real and virtual images. Lateral inversion is a phenomenon where left appears to be right and vice versa.

Complete answer:
When you are looking into a plane mirror and also a photograph, the main difference you notice is the lateral inversion. You can actually experience lateral inversion in the mirror whereas it cannot be seen in the case of photography. The other difference is that the image you see on a plane mirror is a virtual image whereas the photograph is a real image which is displayed on a photographic film.. All the real images can be obtained on a screen whereas the virtual image cannot be obtained on a screen. The photograph is actually a real image which is obtained on a screen(photographic film).A real image is formed when rays of light converge at a point after reflection or refraction, Ex: photograph. A virtual image is formed when light rays appear to converge at a point (they do not actually meet at place), Ex: image obtained on a plane mirror.

Note:
The important thing to note is, in lateral inversion only sides are interchanged, the image does not appear upside down. The other good example where you can see lateral inversion is on the ambulance. All the letters of ambulance are written opposite so as to be seen correctly in the mirror of the vehicle moving ahead.