Question

Interchange of left and right sides of an object in a plane mirror is known as:
(A) Reflection
(B) Refraction
(C) Lateral inversion
(D) All

Answer 1

Hint: Light undergoes many phenomena like reflection, refraction, lateral inversion etc. when it strikes a plane mirror. But it is a matter of question which phenomena is responsible for the interchanging of left and right sides of an object in a plane mirror. For that it is required to know the proper definitions of each of the terms and hence apply the definition to answer the question.

Complete step by step answer:
Reflection: When a light ray strikes the surface of a plane mirror , the light is sent back from the mirror surface in another direction. This process of sending back the light ray is known as reflection of light. Reflection in a plane mirror does not interchange left and right sides of an object as the mirror just flips back and front of the image in reflection. This can be better understood if we consider an example. If you take a book in your right hand and a pen in your left hand, the mirror image does not show that the book is in your left hand and the pen in your right hand. Thus, interchange of left and right sides of an object in a plane mirror cannot be called reflection.
Refraction: The bending of light when it passes from one medium to another is known as the refraction. This is caused due to the change in speed of light ray while passing from one medium to another. Refraction of light does not interchange the left and right sides of an object .
Lateral inversion: When the plane mirror interchanges the left and right sides of the image it is known as lateral inversion. Lateral inversion only changes the sides of the object and does not turn it upside down. Lateral inversion is not actually caused by the plane mirror image but due to our perception.

Thus, option C is correct.

Note:
One of the most important examples of lateral inversion is the writing on an AMBULANCE. In an ambulance the word AMBULANCE is written in a sideways inverted manner so that when other cars in front see the ambulance in the rear mirror of their vehicles, they can see the lateral inverted image of the word , i.e., “AMBULANCE”.
It must also be kept in mind that only in plane mirror sidewise interchange takes place whereas concave mirror gives real and inverted image and convex mirror gives virtual and erect image.