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Magic mirror reflects an image without reversing it
Mirrors, due to their natural properties, reverse things when you look into them. That's why the writing on your shirt looks backwards in a mirror. That's not a big problem for most people, but mathematician Andrew Hicks, it was a challenge.
Using all sorts of math, he's created a magic mirror that actually shows things un-reversed. No, there's no camera inside and it's not a screen, it's merely a specially bent surface that precisely reflects the image in a way that you'll be able to read what's written on your shirt. Practical? Maybe not, because I think I'd be really disoriented brushing my teeth in front of this thing, but cool nonetheless.
New Scientist, Via Oh Gizmo!
By Old Man Dotes at 12:49 PM ON 02/25/09
For objects that will be centered in front of the mirror and vertically-oriented, you can do exactly the same thing using two mirrors set at right angles to each other; the viewer stands in front of the mirrors' center line, so that each mirror is at 45 degrees to her.
By Felipe 058 at 1:22 PM ON 02/25/09
I don't quite see how a simple parabola is classified as "all sorts of math," or a parabolic mirror, which by the way is nothing new, as a "magic mirror."
By Felipe 058 at 1:34 PM ON 02/25/09
I'm sorry, or is it a hyperbolic mirror? Either way, it's neither "all sorts of math" nor is it "magic."
By xTdub at 1:50 PM ON 02/25/09
Technically all this does is reverse the image. With a normal flat mirror, the image is actually not reversed it is reflecting exactly how the light rays hit it.
By gaveedra at 6:24 PM ON 02/25/09
wow, i did this same thing for my seventh grade science project. i went to public school
By V at 10:31 PM ON 02/25/09
Shame on you, Andrew Hicks. Such mirror is just plain simple. I've thought about this when I was in school. Nothing to be proud of.
By thexfile at 3:17 AM ON 02/26/09
i think this is cool especialy in clothes shops.
oke it my be funny to see yourself as peopele see you but it could be very handy i think...
it's also a pretty cool way to show kids the good of maths and physiks ;-)
By ThomWill at 10:36 AM ON 02/26/09
"That's not a big problem for most people, but mathematician Andrew Hicks, it was a challenge," did your proof reader call in sick today?
By Tom at 10:08 PM ON 02/26/09
This was discovered many years ago when a college kid noticed that an image in a soap bubble did not reverse the image. He also figured out the math.
By taks23 at 1:44 PM ON 03/01/09
nice catch thomwill...ha, ha....pathetic editing
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nice catch thomwill...ha, ha....pathetic editing...More »