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Name: Taylor
Status: student
Age: N/A
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Date: N/A
Question:
When you look in a straight mirror why is the reflection appear to be further then it actually is?


Replies:
Taylor,

When you look in a straight mirror, the reflection you see is just as far BEHIND the mirror as the original object is in front of the mirror. If you are 3 feet in front of a straight mirror, your reflection will appear to be 3 feet behind the mirror, or six feet away from you. The distance from your eyes to a reflection of an object is the distance from your eyes to the mirror plus the distance from the mirror to the object.

Dr. Ken Mellendorf
Physics Instructor
Illinois Central College


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