tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973938108988281018.post9128209950673769700..comments2024-02-06T03:23:37.329-08:00Comments on No Jesus, No Peas: Why are left and right reversed when you look in a mirror, but up and down are not?James Sweethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17212877636980569324noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973938108988281018.post-24669821839993253292022-01-26T14:44:48.725-08:002022-01-26T14:44:48.725-08:00Appreciatte this blog postAppreciatte this blog postRecipe Tomhttps://www.recipetom.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973938108988281018.post-61099785110417421122011-11-29T03:11:56.441-08:002011-11-29T03:11:56.441-08:00You think in body parts, no? Light doesn't. Ea...You think in body parts, no? Light doesn't. Each speck of light from your left hand separately goes forward, is affected by the mirror, and bounces back. Same thing happens at your right side.<br /><br />What would be the "right hand" of another person standing opposite you - the hand that is to your own left side - is not a reflection of your own "right hand" when it's a mirror.<br />The left side of the mirror actually reflects your left hand, which appears like a right hand because it's reversed.<br /><br />Certain concave mirrors may reflect your left hand on the right side, making the reflection more like another person would be. By tha same mechanism, certain mirrors may display your feet above your head.<br /><br />You are right that the language is a hurdle.Svlad Cjellinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973938108988281018.post-90071845475771573012011-11-27T11:30:00.468-08:002011-11-27T11:30:00.468-08:00I don't think that answers the question at all...I don't think that answers the question at all!<br /><br />Think of it this way: If I look straight on into a mirror, forwards and backwards are reversed because of what you said, but left and right are also reversed, even though that axis is parallel to the surface. If I lay on my side so that now left and right <i>are</i> up and down, up and down are the same in the mirror but left and right are not.<br /><br />There's no mystery there, of course, but articulating why that is the case is not simple, and I think your "shorter" fails to do so.James Sweethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17212877636980569324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973938108988281018.post-18681295136855045672011-11-27T04:53:13.413-08:002011-11-27T04:53:13.413-08:00Shorter: A reflexive surface reverses axes perpend...Shorter: A reflexive surface reverses axes perpendicular to the surface.<br /><br />In fact, mirrors do reverse "up/down". When the above is true for "up/down". Light plays Pong.Svlad Cjellinoreply@blogger.com