Congratulations to our 2025 runner-up, Mariia from Nord Anglia International School Dublin. In her entry Mariia explored the physics behind how flat mirrors work, focusing on the law of reflection . Take a look at her entry and cover letter:
Mirrors are part of everyday life, but most people don’t realize that they never actually show us what we really look like. A mirror reflects light directly back at us, but it flips the image from left to right. This might not seem like a big deal, but it means we’re seeing a version of ourselves that no one else ever sees – only we do.
In my project, I explored the physics behind how flat mirrors work, focusing on the law of reflection. This law says that light hits a surface at one angle and bounces off at the same angle. Because of this, the mirror creates a reversed image. Our brains are used to this version of ourselves because we see it all the time – but when we look at a photo or video, it can feel unfamiliar or even wrong.
I chose this topic because I think it’s interesting how something as simple as a mirror can completely change how we see ourselves. It’s a small piece of physics that most people never think about, but it actually affects us every day. My goal is to help people understand what they’re really looking at when they look in the mirror.