Seeker's Questions: Mirror and the Virtual Image

[saidevo]

What I see in a mirror when I look into it is an image of
my face. This is a virtual image, according to Science.
It's virtual because the light rays reflected off the mirror
would never meet, so can't form a real image that can be
recorded. Science also says that the image is at the same
distance as the source is. That is, if my face is one foot
away from the mirror, the image also will be formed one foot
into the mirror, though the mirror itself might be only a
few inches thick.

Thess facts throw up some questions:
1. What is the nature of the virtual image? The source is
reflected, atom for atom, and photon for photon by the
reflecting surface of the mirror, which is usually a thin
coat of mercury. What exactly is formed on this reflecting
surface? Do the atoms of mercury undergo any change so as
to reproduce the color and texture of the source atoms?

2. If the image is formed at the same distance inside the
mirror as the source is in front of it, where exactly is
this image formed? In the space behind the mirror? If so,
what exactly is formed in the space? If not, where and how
exactly the image is formed in the mirror?

I have no idea if Science or Theosophy has any answers for
these questions. Readers may please enlighten me.

Regards,
saidevo

[Tormod]

I am not aware of "science" saying that mirrors show a virtual image. They show a very real reflection of the photons which reach it. When you place yourself three feet from a mirror, you will obviously appear exactly three feet "into" the mirror as well - but what you are seeing is a mirror image of yourself. There is nothing virtual about it. It does not have a life on it's own - you move, your reflection moves, only mirrored.

Place a recorder anywhere and you can record what the mirror reflects - both before and after the reflection if you wish (in fact, you need a very very good recorder to see any difference "before" and "after" the reflection since the photons you are recording moves at the speed of light.

I don't know where mercury comes into the equation.

[emessay]

I am still thinking that mirrors effect possibly show virtual image in quantum state along inner side of microtubule. Double-helix structure of DNA also shows symmetrical mirrors. In nature , we can see also complexity of mirror and lens effect, between small ants and big ants, house cat and lion. Like we do print photograph we may choose small size or postcard size. If we think that inner-side of microtubule is 'function of two dimensional mirror', so what will happen in there ? This is my speculative ideas and I think we need to develop understanding like gravitational lens effect, possibly we may discover 'micro-gravity mirror effect' or other quantum state in our conscious mind-body. Negative film show us an example typical 'two dimensional mirror or lens machines' so we may print colourful reality of picture. Why a species have their own stability like 'their own mirror' in million years. Simply words, It's only human-kind understand his own mirror, till now.

[Erasmus00]

Originally Posted by saidevo

Thess facts throw up some questions:
1. What is the nature of the virtual image? The source is
reflected, atom for atom, and photon for photon by the
reflecting surface of the mirror, which is usually a thin
coat of mercury. What exactly is formed on this reflecting
surface? Do the atoms of mercury undergo any change so as
to reproduce the color and texture of the source atoms?

Virtual doesn't mean the image isn't "real" it's just an optical term for the fact that the light rays never come together through a focal point. The electrons in the reflecting metal do indeed undergo a slight change as the light drives surface currents.

2. If the image is formed at the same distance inside the
mirror as the source is in front of it, where exactly is
this image formed? In the space behind the mirror? If so,
what exactly is formed in the space? If not, where and how
exactly the image is formed in the mirror?

It just appears as if the image is located behind the mirror. That is the whole idea of a "virtual" image. The source of the light you are seeing is actually yourself.
-Will

[Qfwfq]

I once heard that there is a Zen koan about a monk that became enlightened one evening, while she was carrying a pale of water in the moonlight. The bottom of the old vessel suddenly fell through. Her thought was: "No more water in pale; no more Moon in water."

[emessay]

But I think mirror would initiate human fancy in looking this vast universe. Imagine 10 million yrs ago first Homo Erectus watch his mirror image strangely in a silent pond. Imagine these possible responses :

1st : "Who's there" ? Ghost !! -->>> He's run away
2nd : "Maybe god in there !!!" --->He's still keep watching
3rd : "I am so embarrassing" ---> He's thinking to use cloth
4th : "There's nothing, it's only water image"--->No problem, he's also still thinking
5th : "Who am I ??"
6th : .............................next and next.........

Maybe Fred Alan Wolf could help :

1. Matter is created by mind
2. If nobody observes reality, reality doesn't exist
3. reality is created by the observer, where is the observer? Wolf claims the observer is not in the brain and it is not in the body
4. the observer, by observing, becomes the body
5.Mind "invents" a fictitious body and then it starts believing that "it is" the body

I am still thinking in front of mirror : "The observer is not in the brain and it is not in the body"...............................

[Eclogite]

Interesting reflections.

[Qfwfq]

Another "interesting reflection": ever seen a good hologram? That amazing too?

Indeed, although a hologram can be a real or a virtual image, there isn't really that much difference. Dirichlet, boundary conditions determine the field...

[emessay]

The experiments for 'consciousness test' like this :

1) >>>>>>
2) ____________________

3) >>>>>>

1) my body+mind
2) 'hypothetical quantum mirror' thin layer two dimension
3) mirror image of my body+mind

The questions are :
a) What will happen if my body+mind is being small in quantum state in looking mirror
b) In quantum state, mirror image = virtual image ?
c) Where is my consciousness/mind [the observer] now standing ?
d) Is there 'hypothetical quantum mirror' functioning in micro-cosmic level especially in life driven-function[ cell divsion,growth,etc]

The nature of data :
- DNA pairs molecules have symmetrical mirror
- All species have symmetrical mirror
- Twins look like 'equal symmetrical mirror'.

[Qfwfq]