Question

An unlabeled analog clock is kept in front of the mirror. Actual time on clock is $3$ . What is time in the mirror image?
(A) $3$
(B) $9$
(C) $6.15$
(D) $9.30$

Answer 1

In order to find the reflected image of the time through the plane mirror, we want to assume the image. Since the clock is identical, the left side will be reflected as right and the right side will be reflected as left. Hence the time can be figured out.

Complete step by step solution:
The image of an object as seen in a mirror is the mirror image. The object having bilateral symmetry will have its mirror image similar to the object. In the case of a clock, it has bilateral symmetry but the time will be different from the actual time. The direction of the reverse is perpendicular to the mirror surface.
Enantiomorphism is called the object and its mirror image. In actual time the hour hand points at $3$ . The minute hand shows $60$ , that it points at $12$ . The second hand shows $60$ , that points at $12$. Now let’s think about the reflected image. The hour hand will be reflected and pointed at $9$ . The minute hand will be reflected and pointed with $12$ itself.
Thus, the time the image in the plane mirror show time $09.00.00$

The correct option is option (B).

Note: Lateral inversion is the effect which is produced by the plane mirror in the reverse direction of the real image. The real fact of lateral inversion is that the name of the ambulance is written in lateral inversion format, so that the on-going vehicle sees the correct name of the ambulance in the side mirror or the center mirror of the vehicle.

Alternative method: One of the easier ways to find the mirror image of time is to subtract the given time from $12:00:00$ . Thus, subtracting each separately, $12 - 9 = 3$, hence, the mirror image of time is $09:00:00$.