Real and virtual images
The images formed by a lens can be:
- upright or inverted (upside down compared to the object);
- enlarged or diminished (smaller than the object);
- real or virtual.
A real image is an image that can be projected onto a screen.
Rays of light actually pass through the image.
A virtual image cannot be projected onto a screen.
It appears to come from behind the lens and can only be seen by looking through the lens.
Rays of light appear to come from a virtual image, rather than pass through it.