Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: paul.fr on 11/05/2007 21:56:46

Title: upside down spoon reflection.
Post by: paul.fr on 11/05/2007 21:56:46
When i run out of spoons to use, i obviously have to wash them...groan....Now, when i am drying them i notice that my reflection is upside down!

Upside down! what the heck is going on?
Title: upside down spoon reflection.
Post by: another_someone on 11/05/2007 22:50:25
I assume you are looking at your reflection on the concave side of the spoon, not the convex side.

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You will see how the light paths will flip over as you view the image reflection from a concave surface.
Title: upside down spoon reflection.
Post by: paul.fr on 11/05/2007 22:54:19
I assume you are looking at your reflection on the concave side of the spoon, not the convex side.

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You will see how the light paths will flip over as you view the image reflection from a concave surface.

i will take your work for it, george. I can't see the picture! I will try viewing the picture, when i get home.
Title: upside down spoon reflection.
Post by: paul.fr on 11/05/2007 22:55:32
and i'll take your word, also!
Title: upside down spoon reflection.
Post by: neilep on 11/05/2007 23:38:31
Isn't this also the very way that images reach the eyes ?...and that it's our brain (it's a complicated/sophisticated thing by the way !)....that turns the piccy the right way up ?
Title: upside down spoon reflection.
Post by: another_someone on 12/05/2007 00:25:52
Isn't this also the very way that images reach the eyes ?...and that it's our brain (it's a complicated/sophisticated thing by the way !)....that turns the piccy the right way up ?

The lens in your eye does flip the image over, and your brain does make a correction; so in this case we have a double flip, but the brain is only making one correction.  If you did nothing but look at inverted images for some time, your brain would eventually make a double correction, and you would not realise you were looking at a double flipped image; but if you are looking at the world only flipped over once, and momentarily see an image that is double flipped, the brain is not yet used to the double flip.
Title: upside down spoon reflection.
Post by: lyner on 13/05/2007 11:54:19
Dentists can cope with inverted images, after a bit of of practice. Also, you manage to comb your hair/ put on makeup. etc., using a mirror, with no problem.
What counts is the 'world map' you have in your brain - not how you input the information.
Your eyes are not the only way you become aware of the space around you. You know the inside of your mouth intimately by using the nerves in your tongue, for instance. The 'visible' picture of our mouths can be quite a surprise, in fact.
Working around car engines, we often use touch to build up a picture, too - or at least, a version of it.
The brain is just SO SMART.