What Is the Difference between a Real and a Virtual Image?
Answer – A real image is formed when light rays converge, whereas a virtual image is formed when light rays only appear to diverge.
Explanation:
Below is a table showcasing distinctions between a real image and a virtual image:
| Real Image | Virtual Image |
| Real images are formed by the actual intersection of light rays after reflection/refraction and can be projected on a screen. | Virtual images appear to diverge from a point and cannot be projected on a screen. |
| Real images are always on the same side of the optical system as that of the object. | Virtual images are on the opposite side of the object. |
| Converging lenses or concave mirrors typically create real images. | Diverging lenses or convex mirrors frequently produce virtual images. |
| Real images can be magnified or reduced in size depending on the optical system. | Virtual images generally appear the same size as the object. |
| The orientation of real images is inverted. | The orientation of virtual images is upright. |
Image credit: Zaereth / Wikimedia Commons (licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0)
