Why is difficult to read the image of the text of a page formed due to reflection by a plane mirror?

Answer

To understand why it is difficult to read the image of the text of a page formed due to reflection by a plane mirror, we can analyze the concept of lateral inversion and how it affects the orientation of text.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Lateral Inversion**:
- When light reflects off a plane mirror, the image formed undergoes a phenomenon known as lateral inversion. This means that the left side of an object appears as the right side in the image, and vice versa.

2. **Analyzing Text in a Mirror**:
- Consider a page of text. When you look at the text in a plane mirror, each letter and word is reversed. For example, the word "BOOK" would appear as "KOOB" in the mirror.

3. **Ray Diagram Explanation**:
- If we draw a ray diagram, we can illustrate how light rays from the text hit the mirror and reflect back to the viewer. The incident rays from the left side of the text will reflect and appear on the right side of the image.

4. **Virtual Image Formation**:
- The image formed by a plane mirror is virtual, meaning it cannot be projected onto a screen. The letters appear reversed, making it hard to read because our brain interprets the letters based on their usual orientation.

5. **Practical Example**:
- When you raise your right hand in front of a mirror, it appears as if your left hand is raised. This confusion arises from the lateral inversion effect, which also applies to reading text.

6. **Conclusion**:
- Thus, due to lateral inversion, the text appears reversed in a plane mirror, making it difficult to read. The left and right sides of the letters are swapped, leading to confusion.