In optics it is widely mentioned real images are projectable onto screens whereas virtual ones can only be seen by a person. Isn't that contradictory? I mean in order to see the virtual image it has to be projected onto the retina (ultimately acting as a screen).
So, why can you see virtual images in the first place?
Answer
Your eye is a second optical system.
It re-focuses the diverging rays to produce a real image on the retina.
This process is exactly the same thing it does when looking at a nearby (i.e. not at effective infinity) object.
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