How Do Mirrors Work in a Funhouse?

Mirrors can make you look funny because they change how tall or short you appear. Some mirrors are curved like a hill, making you seem really small, while others are curved like a valley, making you seem super big. It's all about the shape of the mirror and where your eyes go when you look at it.

The Magic of Curved Mirrors

If you look into a concave (bowl-shaped) mirror, it bends light in a way that makes you look bigger than life, like a giant. If you look into a convex (bulging-outward) mirror, it bends light so your body seems squashed, making you look tiny.

Why It Feels Funny

Your brain gets confused when you see a version of yourself that doesn't match what you're used to seeing every day. That's why funhouse mirrors make everything, and everyone, seem so silly!

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Examples

Looking into a concave mirror makes your face look huge, like you're standing next to a giant!
A convex mirror can make you look tiny, as if you've shrunk down to the size of a doll.
Standing between two funhouse mirrors creates a never-ending row of tiny or giant versions of yourself.

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Categories: Physics · mirrors,optics,funhouses