The Distinction Between Real and Virtual Images


A virtual image occurs when light rays are bent or refracted by an object, and the object thus appears larger than it really is. A real image occurs when light rays from an object are reflected toward the viewer, so that the viewer sees the image in front of them (as opposed to behind them). In photography, using camera lenses with multiple focal lengths allow you to create real images, as well as virtual images (that can be used in mirroring and double exposure photography). This article describes the difference between these two types of images and how they can be achieved through different methods.

Difference Between Real and Virtual Images
Both real and virtual images are types of images that can be projected onto a screen using a projector. They serve different purposes, however, so it’s important to understand what those differences are. Real or actual images tend to provide a realistic portrayal of an object or scene. They look very much like their subject in terms of color, texture, detail, and other qualities people recognize as characteristic of that subject. One good example of a real image is a photograph. However, there are some settings where you don’t want your projection system to make images too realistic because then they may not appear clear enough for viewers. In these cases it may be preferable to use virtual or synthetic images instead.

Example of a Virtual Image
A virtual image is a reversal or mirror image of an object, for example, in a mirror. An object appears to be behind another object when actually it's on either side of it. The car parked to your left as you stand facing a building's front doors, for example, will appear to be directly in front of you (on your right) in a mirror that reflects its image from left to right. The inverted image produced by a virtual image can confuse you. For example, if there is an opening near where you think something should be—such as that door behind which is your parked car—you might try walking into what looks like solid wall instead of approaching that doorway leading outside.

Example of a Real Image
when an object is directly in front of you, it creates a real image of itself on your retina. The light is focused by your eye's lens into an inverted and upside-down image on your retina which forms an image of exactly what you are looking at. This means that to view a real image, all rays of light must pass through your eye; any ray that doesn't (e.g., if you don't look directly at something) will appear darker than what it was before passing through your eye. If there is anything blocking a ray from reaching your retina, such as when objects are behind other objects or when they are too far away to focus on properly, then there will be no real image formed on your retina because some rays did not reach it.

real and virtual image convex mirror
A convex mirror produces a virtual image that appears to be located behind the mirror. The real, or actual, image is located in front of it. This real image is seen by viewers who are between and behind both mirrors (see diagram). When we look into a magnifying glass at an object directly in front of it, we see a smaller version of that object. Because of its magnification factor, though, it appears larger than normal to us; such an image is called a virtual image. Since no object can exist within a mirror without being reflected there, if you tried to bring your hand closer to such an empty space inside it, your hand would simply disappear into another dimension completely.

which lens can form real and virtual image
The real image is formed by a converging lens. When an object is placed at a certain distance from a converging lens, an image of that object appears on a screen placed in front of it. The magnification is given by 1/D; where D = object distance (cm). This means that if we double D, we get half size of image. On separating both lenses with each other, we can form two images as shown in figure. These are called virtual images . If you are confused between real and virtual images then take some time to study these following points carefully .

best of real and virtual image
A real image is a distant object in space that is directly magnified by a lens. A virtual image, on the other hand, doesn’t actually exist at all. It’s an image that exists only in your head — but it appears just as vivid as any other image. When you see someone using special 3D glasses to watch a 3D movie, for example, what they are seeing is a virtual image because there are no images flashing past their eyes — but it looks very real to them. That’s why people often confuse real with virtual. Even though a virtual image isn't really there, your brain perceives it just like any other image.