When an illuminated object is held in front of a thick plane glass mirror, several images are seen, out of which the second image is the brightest. Give reason.
When an illuminated object is held in front of a thick plane glass mirror, several images are seen, out of which the second image is the brightest. Give reason.

Solution:

When a ray of light from a lit candle lands on the surface of the mirror, a small portion of the light (almost 4% ) is reflected. It generates a weak virtual picture, while the majority of the light (nearly 96%) is refracted inside the glass. The silvered surface inside the glass now brightly reflects this ray back. This light is then partially refracted in air, resulting in the formation of a new virtual image. Because the light suffers a significant initial reflection at the silvered surface, this image is the brightest.