Infinity mirror facts for kids
An infinity mirror is a special setup with two or more mirrors facing each other. It creates a cool trick where reflections seem to go on forever, getting smaller and smaller. This makes it look like there's a super long tunnel of reflections. Often, the front mirror is partly see-through, like a one-way mirror. You don't always need this type of mirror for the effect to work. This amazing look is sometimes called the Droste effect in art. Infinity mirrors are often used as cool room decorations or in art projects.
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How an Infinity Mirror Works
In a typical infinity mirror, small lights, like LEDs, are put around the edge of a regular mirror. Another mirror, which is partly see-through, is placed a little bit in front. These two mirrors are perfectly parallel to each other.
When you look into the front, partly see-through mirror, the lights seem to go on forever. This creates the appearance of a deep, lit-up tunnel. It's a really neat optical illusion.
What if the Mirrors Aren't Parallel?
If the mirrors are not perfectly parallel but are tilted a little bit, the "visual tunnel" will look different. Instead of going straight, it will seem to curve off to one side as it goes into the distance.
Seeing the Effect in Other Places
You can also see this effect if you stand between two regular mirrors that face each other. This happens in some dressing rooms, elevators, or a house of mirrors. A smaller version of this effect can be seen between any two parallel shiny surfaces. For example, the glass walls of a small entry lobby in some buildings can show this. The partly-reflective glass creates this feeling, but it's not as clear because you can also see through the glass to the outside.
Why the Infinity Effect Happens
The amazing 3D illusion of an infinity mirror happens because of how light bounces. When two shiny surfaces are parallel, a beam of light can bounce back and forth between them many times. Each time the light bounces, it travels more distance before it reaches your eyes. This makes the reflections look like they are far away.
How Light Travels in the Mirror
Let's imagine an infinity mirror that is two centimeters thick. The light sources are in the middle of this space.
- First, light from the source travels one centimeter to the back mirror.
- Then, it bounces off the back mirror and travels two centimeters to the front mirror, and then through it to your eye. This first reflection seems three centimeters away (1 cm + 2 cm).
- The light that bounces again travels two centimeters from the front mirror back to the rear mirror. Then it travels another two centimeters from the back mirror through the front mirror. This adds four more centimeters to the path. So, the second reflection appears seven centimeters away (3 cm + 4 cm).
- Each time the light bounces, it adds four more centimeters to the total distance. The third reflection looks 11 centimeters deep, the fourth looks 15 centimeters deep, and so on.
Each extra bounce makes the light travel further before it leaves the mirror and reaches you. This also makes the image a little dimmer each time. That's why the reflections seem to fade away into the distance.
Images for kids
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An infinity mirror effect viewed between paired mirrors in a public bathroom
See also
In Spanish: Espejo infinito para niños
