A plane mirror is a flat surface that is capable of reflecting light. Since the surface is plane, the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection for any light ray striking the surface. The image formed by a plane mirror is a virtual(cannot be captured on a screen) upright image with the same size as the object but laterally inverted. Here lateral inversion is meant by that your left hand seems to be the right hand in the image and vice versa. Plane mirrors are used mainly for the advantage that you get an image of the same size as of the object, and that the distance in the mirror is the same as that of the object from the mirror. In this article, we look at 50 uses of plane mirrors.
Uses of a plane mirror
- Personal grooming, such as applying makeup or shaving.
- Checking one’s appearance before leaving the house.
- Dental examinations and procedures.
- Industrial inspection, allowing workers to see hard-to-reach areas.
- Retail store displays, where mirrors can be used to highlight merchandise.
- Security cameras, where mirrors can be used to create a wider field of view.
- Photography, where mirrors can be used to create reflections and interesting compositions.
- Home decor, where mirrors can be used to create the illusion of more space.
- Traffic mirrors, which help drivers see around corners or over hills.
- Microscope slides, where mirrors can be used to direct light onto specimens.
- Rearview mirrors in vehicles, allowing drivers to see behind them.
- Telescope mirrors, which collect and focus light for astronomical observations.
- Periscopes, which allow users to see around corners or over obstacles.
- Laser equipment, which often use mirrors to direct and focus beams of light.
- Video cameras, may use mirrors to create different angles or to allow for compact designs.
- Building facades, where mirrors can be used to create interesting designs and reflections.
- Art installations, where mirrors can be used to create optical illusions.
- Film production, where mirrors can be used to create certain camera shots and special effects.
- Optical illusions, such as the “infinity mirror” effect.
- Projector screens, may use mirrors to redirect light onto the screen.
- Interior design, where mirrors can be used to create the illusion of more light or space.
- Jewelry making, where mirrors can be used to inspect and polish pieces.
- Medical examinations, such as ear, nose, and throat exams.
- Education and scientific experiments, where mirrors can be used to demonstrate principles of optics.
- Magic tricks and illusions, where mirrors can be used to create unexpected visual effects.
- Stage productions, where mirrors can be used to create interesting lighting effects and illusions.
- Helicopters, which use mirrors to deflect the airflow and help stabilize the aircraft.
- Art restoration, where mirrors can be used to inspect and analyze artwork.
- Virtual reality systems, which may use mirrors to direct images into the user’s eyes.
- Escape rooms and puzzles, where mirrors can be used to create challenges and obstacles for participants.
- Solar energy applications, where mirrors can be used to reflect and focus sunlight onto solar panels.
- Optical instruments such as spectrometers, which use mirrors to direct and analyze light.
- Broadcasting studios, where mirrors can be used to check the appearance of hosts and guests.
- Makeup mirrors with built-in lights to enhance visibility.
- Optical fibers, which use mirrors to reflect and guide light through the fibers.
- Movie theaters, where mirrors can be used to reflect images from projectors onto screens.
- Perimeter security systems, where mirrors can be used to monitor hard-to-see areas.
- Self-driving cars, which use mirrors and cameras to detect and avoid obstacles.
- Dental imaging, where mirrors can be used to take photos of teeth and gums.
- Reflective insulation, where mirrors can be used to reflect heat away from buildings and structures.
- Laser printers, which use mirrors to direct laser beams and create high-resolution prints.
- Astronomy and space exploration, where mirrors can be used in telescopes and spacecraft to collect and focus light.
- Stage magic performances, where mirrors can be used to create illusions and misdirection.
- Biomedical research, where mirrors can be used to visualize cells and tissues in experiments.
- Body positioning and alignment, where mirrors can be used to check and adjust posture.
- Automotive design and engineering, where mirrors can be used to simulate and test vehicle aerodynamics.
- Optical communication, where mirrors can be used in fiber-optic cables to reflect and guide signals.
- Laser cutting and welding, which use mirrors to direct and focus laser beams onto materials.
- Archaeological research, where mirrors can be used to inspect and document hard-to-see areas of artifacts.
- Surveying and mapping, where mirrors can be used in surveying instruments to reflect and measure angles.
These are some of the common uses of plane mirrors. We will look into the 12 most common uses of the plane mirror in detail:
Looking Glasses
Life would be different without mirrors. Looking at glasses helps us to see ourselves in the plane mirror. The image produced is a virtual, erect, and laterally inverted image. Your left hand will be the right hand in the image. The size of the image is the same as yourself and there is no distortion or color, everything remains the same. Nowadays looking mirrors are made by spraying a thin layer of silver or aluminum onto the plane glass. And then, the mirror is decorated on the sides by a frame or made from glass of various shapes to make it unique.
Image by Sonja Kavka from Pixabay
Periscope
Periscope is used by submarines to see objects on the surface of the sea. Since light travels in straight paths, it is difficult to bend light rays but they can be reflected. The plane mirrors used in a periscope change the direction of the light rays, to make the object viewable to the viewer in the submarine. Periscopes can be used in places where we cannot see the other side, like a wall or some obstruction to our view, then this will help us to view the object beyond the obstruction.
Kaleidoscope
Kaleidoscope uses the reflection of light to generate very interesting patterns. They are used to create toys for small children.
You get a similar view inside a kaleidoscope. The pattern can vary depending on the objects present inside it. Generally small beads, simple patterns are printed inside. The reflections from the closely placed plane mirrors give us a continuous pattern.
Telescope
A telescope is used to view far-off objects like planets in the solar system. There are two types of telescopes. A refracting telescope uses a system of lenses. Reflecting telescopes use plane mirrors in combination with spherical mirrors. The uses of plane mirrors in reflecting telescopes include reflecting and directing the light to the focal point of the telescope, which helps to form a clear image of the object being viewed.
Interferometer
Interferometers are used in scientific settings to study the optical properties of materials.
To make the room look bigger
Huge plane mirrors can create an optical illusion due to the reflection. The rooms seem to be bigger to our eyes.
Saloon
The parallelly placed plane mirror can create an infinite number of images. This helps a person to see both the front side and back side of a person which is very much needed in a saloon.
Microscopes
Plane mirrors are used to reflect the light onto the specimen to illuminate it.
SLR Cameras
Plane mirrors are used inside single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras.
Scientific Instruments
Optical instruments are widely used in scientific research. Sometimes a modification of the regular optical instruments is required. Modifications or attachments using plane mirrors are done for the specified application. Plane mirrors are also used in retinoscopes which is a medical devices.
Long-distance signaling
If you find yourself stuck in a remote place and want to create a signal to the rescuers then you can use a plane mirror. A plane mirror can reflect light to long distances. You can use the light from the sunlight to reflect it.
Handicraft
Since plane mirrors reflect light, they can be used to make some creative handicrafts, and mirror work is also used in dresses. The uses of plane mirrors are not just limited to art and fashion, they are also used in scientific instruments such as reflecting telescopes, where they play a crucial role in reflecting and directing light toward the focal point of the telescope.
Why sometimes, concave or convex mirrors are chosen over plane mirrors?
Spherical mirrors are used in applications where light needs to be concentrated or diverged. Plane mirror finds uses in applications where there is no need for change in the size of the object. Applications like solar cookers require a concave mirror because the light rays need to be concentrated which a plane mirror cannot do. In applications like shaving mirrors, automobile headlights, or telescopes, the light has to be diverged to get a wide view, so a concave mirror is useful in such cases. Silver is often used to coat the reflective surface of mirrors to increase reflectivity and make them more durable.
