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EXPERIMENT 2

The mirror image of a mirror writing

hand.gif What you need:

  • 1 mirror
  • 1 piece of paper
  • 1 pocket-torch
  • 1 pencil
  • tape
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How do you perform the experiment?

Write a word (for example: "LIGHT") on the piece of paper with a pencil in such a way that you can easily cut out the letters.
Paste those letters with tape backwards on the mirror, so that you can see the word in mirror writing. Now darken the room and shine with your pocket torch on the mirror so that the image of the mirror is projected on the wall.

qm.gif

What do you observe?

yes no
I see bright light on the wall 
   
I see the text in mirror writing on the wall  
   
The text is on the wall, but not in mirror writing    
I have to shine the light obliquely on the mirror  
   
I have to shine the light straight on the mirror
   

   


 

How is it possible that the mirror reverses the text?

You probably have already seen that some cars (for example ambulances) have their inscriptions in mirror writing. When you ride in front of such a car, and you look backwards in your mirror, you can read the text in the right way. Thus, a mirror reverses a text. If you don't believe it, just look at this text in a mirror. Try to read a page of a book in the mirror.
What is the mirror image of a text in mirror writing? Indeed: it is again a normal text.

em_trans A mirror reverses front and back

When you look at a piece of paper with a text on it from the back side, you see the text in mirror writing. If you paste this paper on a mirror, then the mirror "sees" the text in the right way, and it is as such projected on the wall.