Why is your reflection inverted in a spoon?
928848
What's not clear is whether the image is a virtual or real one.\n\nFirst, consider a quick graphical, geometrical ray trace of a focusing \nmirror (let's assume it's spherical so that the analysis is simple).  I \nusually do this by drawing the reflector and locating its center of \ncurvature and focal point (which is just half the distance from the middle \nof the sphere to the center of curvature).  To look at image formation, I \ndraw a large number "1" where the object should be -- in this case, \noutside the focal point.  I then draw two rays from the top of the "1" -- \none parallel to the line from the center of the sphere throught the radius \nof curvature and one through the radius of curvature.  The first ray must, \nafter reflection, go through the focal point (because it acts as a \nparallel ray from infinity, which are all focused at the focal distance \nfrom any optic).  The second must just come back upon itself, because it \nis perpendicular to the reflector surface.  The intersection of the two \nrays is where the head of the image "1" is located.  In this case, it's \noutside the focal point.  I then do the same thing from the bottom of \nthe "1", and then draw the orientation of the imaged "1"...  It's clearly \ninverted and reduced in size and more than 1 focal length away from the \nmirror.  This is clearly the real image you referred to in your question.  \n\nWhere's the virtual image?  It's not there!  What you're observing is the \nreal image.\n\nTo understand this, consider what a virtual image is and how it's formed \nby an example.  A virtual image does NOT result from the convergence of \nray bundles at any real point in space... A virtual image is observed when \na situation arises rays from a single point appear to emerge from a point \nin space, but which doesn't correspond to any real point.  A good way to \nsee this is to turn the spoon around and look at the convex surface.  You \nsee yourself right side up!  If you do the ray trace using the method I \noutline above, you find an apparent convergence of rays behind the mirror \nwhich produces an upright image, which is just what you see in this case.  \nBut, since the spoon is silver, it's pretty apparent that there can't be \nany rays actually focused behind it -- so it's a virtual image.\n\nAn interesting thing occurs, however, when you flip the spoon back to the \noriginal configuration and move the object inside the focal point.  The \nimage you see is no longer inverted! And it's big!  If you do the ray \ntrace you find that the convergence of the rays which form the image is \nnow in back of the spoon, so that the image has shifted to an upright \nvirtual image which is magnified.  Try it with one of your spoons -- it \nreally works!\n\nAnd even more interestingly, if the object were placed exactly at the \nfocal point, all hell would break loose and what you would see would be a \ngiant blob filling the spoon that looks like nothing but a big source of \nlight.  In this case, there is neither a virtual nor a real image formed \nand the mirror/spoon is acting like a collimator -- turning all rays from \nthe object into parallel light streaming to infinity (roughly).\n\nI hope this helps!
955245
So you've got the look-down angle and you can cut a piece  of scrap to check that that's right, then you scribe top and bottom on your scrap with a 1/2 inch or 1/4 inch inset so you can see what angle you need from top to bottom? This is the 75 degree that you are talking about?\n\nIf so then, when you invert (assuming the top and bottom faces are parallel) you still have a 75 degree angled cut don't you?   Why not just cut for the look-down, offer it up and scribe then hand-plane?
59344
A mirror preserves absolute direction, both horizontally and vertically.  Say you're facing west; the reflection of your north hand is on the same side of the room as your real north hand -- namely the north side.  And the reflection of the top of your body is toward the ceiling, just like the real top of your body.  That's because north vs. south and up vs. down are the same for everybody.  But right and left are not absolute directions.  Your north hand is on the right because you're facing west.  If someone were facing east, their north hand would be on the left.  And your reflection in this example _is_ facing east because you are facing west, and the reflection is looking back at you.  So, your reflection's north hand, which is the same as your north (that is, right) hand, is its left hand.
1103211
It doesnt reverse. You see yourself how others see you. It's not like the light waves are switching sides. . . it's the fact that they're staying on their own side that makes it look like they switched!!
1026752
it's the difference in the curves on the spoon.
339075
WITH A LONG HANDLE SPOON
909230
In most cases, the trick could be accomplished simply by misdirection, a basic tool of the stage magician. Namely, the performer draws the audience's attention away from the spoon during the brief moment while he is actually bending it with his hands. The typical bend, where the bowl meets the handle, requires relatively little force. Another possible method is to use a metal spoon that has been previously doctored so that a simple flick will cause it to bend. This can be done, for instance, by repeatedly bending the spoon at the desired spot, until the metal cracks and weakens. One other method is to grip together two halves of an already-broken spoon, and then slowly relax the grip - giving the impression the spoon is bending in the middle before finally splitting into two halves.
18257
you were correct.  It appears that the howstuffworks diagram showing the bicycle mentioned in another answer is in error in that the bicycle would be upside down as shown but the tires and handlebars should not be reversed the way shown.  For example if you are looking at a nearby shrub and a distant tree, both would be upsidedown on your retina.  But the order of objects would be tree, shrub, focal point of eye, shrub image then tree image.\n\nAn experiment was conducted where people wore special glasses that inverted objects as the eye does.  After a while they learned to see correctly again and when they took the glasses off everything was inverted until they re-learned to see correctly once again.
287924
That's because light reflects in the mirror just as if it's coming from the same distance the real object is but behind the mirror.  You are nor looking an image that is at the mirror distance, but really at the real object distance.
457368
Yes it reads inward/outward.  Why so curious??
885973
EE/EB/HI  upside down on a calculator display.
423150
the effect is called Gradient!\n\nUse the help menu to figure it out, i dont have the menus memorized to talk you through it
931729
It's not reversed, you only think it is. The left side reflects to the left side, the right side reflects back to the right side, same with top and bottom.
38582
I realize I am out of my league as far as physics,, but the image reflects directly back to the source in front of it. For the reflection to appear upside down or vertically mirrored the light would have to be bent.\n\nok looked it up.  It is because of the predicatable behavior of light known as the law of reflection
863293
In the opposite direction of the applied force or motion
834330
Because the mirror reflects whatever is directly in front of it.  Your left hand is directly in front of the right side of the mirror.  Your head is directly in front of the top of the mirror.
886860
When you look at yourself in the mirror the right side of your reflection is to the right of the mirror, and so on left to left, top to top...  What is reversed is front to back.  If you are looking north your reflection is looking south.  Since you and your reflection are looking in opposite directions but the hands are on the same sides your reflection appears left handed because you expect the right hand of a person facing you to be on the opposite side.