Real vs Virtual Image

A real image is formed where rays of light actually converge and can be projected on a screen. Inverted, on the opposite side of a converging lens or in front of a concave mirror. Examples: image on a camera sensor, slide projected on a wall, retinal image inside the eye.

A virtual image is the apparent location from which diverging rays seem to originate after refraction or reflection. Cannot be projected on a screen. Upright, on the same side as the object. Examples: image in a flat mirror, magnified image in a magnifying glass (object closer than f), image in a diverging lens.

Sign convention: real image distance s′ > 0; virtual image distance s′ < 0 (in the Cartesian convention used in most textbooks).

Recent research on this topic from arXiv

Preprints and papers indexed on arXiv.org. Links open the public abstract pages.

Where to go next