Reflections

[BigShow]

Why is it that when you look in a mirror your reflection is changed from left to right ie. back to front and not from top to bottom making you upside down?

[rojash]

It's not: your left side is shown on the left side of the mirror, just as your feet are shown at the bottom. If you expect to see you left side on the right side of the mirror, then why don't you expect to see your feet at the top?

[Peter Pedant]

Handedness is reversed, side to side isnt and neither is top and bottom

[Peter Pedant]

Ok slightly longer

when you nod in a mirror the reflection nods his head.

when you wiggle your toes, he wiggles his toes

so top and bottom is not reversed.

when you wiggle your left hand, he wiggles his right hand - but it is on the same side.

So the sides are not reversed, but handedness is.

[mibn2cweus]

By placing two adjacent mirrors side by side and at a right angle to each other, you will see yourself as others see you. Try shaking hands with your image?

[Loosehead]

Mirrors only reflect light they do not reverse anything.

[Space]

the image is reversed back-to-front ( and not left to right )

that is because the mirror reflects light according its plane, which is facing you.

[JudgeJ]

This has been asked before on AB. My answer remains the same:

Stand facing somebody else:

 Your right hand is opposite their left and your left hand is opposite their right.
 No mirror is involved in this amazing "reversal".
 Neither of you has been “reversed”.
 You would not expect your head to be opposite their feet.

Can I have my diploma now please?