why does a mirror reflect images left to right rather than top to bottom?
435473
It does neither. It just reflects a laterally inverted image which has nothing to do with left-right or top-bottom.
703738
a mirror reflects light and reflects what light reflects off of (like if the light is on, you can be seen in the mirror).  Your shirt also reflects light.  A red shirt absorbs all the colors of light except for red, which is reflected.
348613
wow, what a cool way of thinking!  I have wondered sometimes that when I walk up to a mirror and then walk away, where does my mirrior image go?  Does it go do something else until I summon it to the mirror again?
916307
if light did not travel in a staight line then the mirror would make the light refract (focus)and since it does not it proves that light travels in a straight line
1143228
Lay on your side and the mirror flips things up and down.  That may give you a hint that the symmetry is associated with your eyes being placed on a horizontal plane when standing.  The orientation of the flip, per se, is all in your head (well, the construction of your head).
168848
practuce in frony of a mirror
371993
We see images in mirror. Similarly we see pictures in T.V screen, Cinema screen, and in computer screen.  All we see in a single plane surfaces. \n\nConsider the moment, when all pictures seen in them are still including the image in mirror.\n\n To view them leisurely, we take photos of all and print them and paste them all in their position. \n\nWhat is the difference between the previous one and the present one?\n\nBoth are in the single plane. Behind the plane there is wall or some electrical gadgets only.\n\nIf images in mirror are three dimensional then all pictures and the drawings in the books will be three dimensional. However, we try to give the three dimensional effect in picture drawn on a plane paper. A cube can be drawn in a paper and can be visualized in three dimensions. That does not mean that the drawing is three dimensional.\n\nBut real images can have actual three dimensions. In that case we say it is a three dimensional image.  But the real image formed in a camera screen is two dimensional.\n\nHence all virtual images are two dimensions only even though they appear to be three dimensional. \n\nReal images can be either two dimensional or three dimensional. \n\nReal images are only images and are not real objects even though they are three dimensional images.
183575
(1)mirrors reflect light because it has a shiny and reflective metal behind it.\n(2)camera lenses
593131
The incident ray is perpendicular to the surface of reflection.\nThen one has the least distance case.
148730
I think it will not change. The reflected ray has to have the same angle. The ray passes through water and refelcts in the water. \nWhat changes is the direction of the ray coming from the air, and then going through the water, but this will not change the focal lenght. Focal lenght is just a matter of geometry of the mirror.
161633
Why do we appear backwards in the reflection of a mirror? How do we see our true image?\n\nWebsite below has the answers.
329439
Ha!  I know just what you mean.  Basically a reflective surface reflects everything and most everything is visible depending on your position in relation to the object.  For example, an object held behind your back can be seen by a person standing in front of you if they change their position slightly.  It is a fascinating and wonderful phenomenon.
1030622
If you look at a painting from 3 inches away, it will be clear, but a mirror is not in fact a flat image like a painting.  The light in the mirror comes from the surroundings, so, depending on the distance between an object and the mirror, the light travels different distances.  Try standing in front of the mirror and covering one eye-- what you see, in the mirror or not, will be flat.  Uncover the eye and you will have depth perception even when you look in the mirror.
152319
Not to sound like a nerd, but since it is at an angle higher than that of your face, it reflects your light pattern (Your face) in an upside down angle. To make a long story short, its like a fun house mirror. Try tilting it at different angle and maybe you will see yourself right side up!
8756
Unless the reflective surface is perfect (which is impossible in the real world) the light will loose a little energy with each reflection (the mirror will heat up a little), and in a very short time the light will just get redder until it is merged into whatever infrared energy is inside the sphere.
792151
Light bounces off of a mirror instead of being sucked into it.
670362
Yes it can. If you have two mirrors exactly facing each other, an infinite amount of reflections are made back and forth. You should try it.