The magnification of an object 2cm tall when placed 10cm in front of a plane mirror is

Analyze the question: An object 2 cm tall is placed 10 cm in front of a plane mirror. We need the magnification.

Concept: A plane mirror forms a virtual, upright image that is the same size as the object. The image is as far behind the mirror as the object is in front of it.

Magnification is:

m = image height / object height = image distance / object distance (magnitudes)

Solution:

• Object distance, u = 10 cm
• Image distance, v = 10 cm (behind the mirror, virtual)
• Object height = 2 cm
• Image height = 2 cm

m = h_i / h_o = 2 / 2 = 1

Or using distances: m = v/u = 10/10 = 1

Answer: The magnification is 1.0, which is option B.

Tip: For any plane mirror, the magnification is always 1, no matter the object's height or distance. The numbers in the question (2 cm, 10 cm) are distractors. Remember: plane mirror → image same size, same distance behind, virtual, upright, laterally inverted.