Real Image

Real image is defined as the image formed by the convergence of light rays when reflected or refracted from a plane mirror, spherical mirror, spherical lens, or object.

The real image is formed in front of the mirror and is always located at the plane of convergence of emitted light rays from the source. Real images are formed at a position where light rays intersect each other. Real images are inverted in nature. They can be seen on the screen.

Consider placing an object in front of the concave mirror, and light striking the surface of the concave mirror after being reflected from the object. Following the rules of reflection, when several light rays strike the mirror, they are all reflected once more and come together at a point in front of the mirror.

Read More: Concave and Convex Mirrors

Ray Diagram of Real Image

The figure below illustrates the above-discussed phenomenon of real images:

As we can see in this example, light rays are doing, in reality, converge at a certain point. A flow diagram of that object is then produced at that actual position. It should be noted that the rays diverge from a place where they had previously converged.

Real Images Examples

Various examples where real images are formed are,

• Images formed on the movie screen.
• Image formed by the pinhole cameras.
• Images formed on the retina of the eyes.

Real and Virtual Images are the two types of images formed by the reflection and refraction of light rays. The key difference between real and virtual images is that the real image is formed by the actual intersection of light rays after reflection or refraction of light, while the virtual Images are formed when light rays appear to meet at a point in the area beyond the mirror. Hence, to obtain a real image, the light rays converge while to obtain a virtual image, the light rays diverge.

Read more about the real and virtual image, their formation, examples, etc, and the differences between the real and virtual images in this article.