Is the Image in the Rearview Mirror Laterally Inverted?
2 Answers
Rearview mirrors display a laterally inverted image. Definition: A rearview mirror is a device that allows drivers seated in the driver's seat to directly obtain external information about the rear, sides, and lower areas of the vehicle. For the convenience of drivers, to prevent traffic safety accidents, and to ensure personal safety, all countries mandate the installation of rearview mirrors on vehicles, and all rearview mirrors must be adjustable in direction. Classification: Rearview mirrors can be divided into three main series: flat mirrors, spherical mirrors, and dual-curvature mirrors. Additionally, there is a prismatic mirror type, which has a flat mirror surface but a prism-shaped cross-section, typically used as an anti-glare interior rearview mirror.
When I first started driving, I was also puzzled by this. Later, I realized that the left side in the rearview mirror is indeed the left, and the right is still the right. For example, if a car is overtaking me from the left, in the mirror it moves from left to right. However, objects in the mirror do appear smaller than in reality, especially with many cars now using convex mirrors, which offer a wider field of view but with some distortion. Every time I change lanes, I take a couple of extra glances because the distance in the mirror can be deceiving. When a neighboring car gets closer, its image in the mirror suddenly appears larger, so I always give it a few more seconds of estimation before turning the steering wheel.
