Question

What are the characteristics of a virtual image? Check all that apply.

can be projected onto a screen
can only be seen while looking through a lens
can be captured on camera
may appear larger than the object
appears to come from behind the lens
appears upside down

Answer 1

Correct choices:
- may appear larger than the object — Yes. (Example: a magnifying glass produces an enlarged virtual image.)
- appears to come from behind the lens — Yes. (Virtual images are formed where rays only appear to originate; they are located “behind” the lens or mirror.)

Incorrect choices (and why):
- can be projected onto a screen — No. Virtual images are formed by diverging rays that do not actually converge, so they cannot be caught on a screen.
- can only be seen while looking through a lens — No. You must view the optical system (lens or mirror) to see a virtual image, but it’s not limited to “through a lens” (e.g., a plane mirror gives a virtual image).
- can be captured on camera — Typically no. A camera cannot directly record the location of a virtual image on its sensor the way a screen can record a real image (though a camera can photograph the appearance by using its own optics to form a real image on the sensor).
- appears upside down — No. Virtual images are usually upright (inverted images are generally real for simple single lenses/mirrors).