TOPIC:

ID Code: L2-05
Purpose: Investigation of the nature of images from a plane mirror
Description: A plane mirror with three small coordinate axes, one left-handed and two right-handed. Position one right-handed coordinate system in front of the mirror and ask a student to line up the second right-handed coordinate system so that it looks like the image in the mirror. It will quickly be seen to be impossible. Try again with the left-handed coordinate system. That this can be done indicates that the mirror inverts one of the axes, but which one? Everyone agrees that the mirror does not invert top-to-bottom. Stand in front of the mirror and wiggle your right hand; the hand on the same side wiggles in the mirror, indicating no left-to-right inversion!
Availability: Available