Why Are Objects in the Mirror Closer Than They Appear?
How a T-Rex taught us about light rays and convex mirrors
Remember that classic moment in Jurassic Park when the T-Rex is chasing down the Jeep, and its menacing jaws are reflected in the side-view mirror?
What made the joke funny — and suspenseful — was the presence of the disclaimer on the side mirror that stated, “Objects in mirror are closer than they appear.” It’s a notice we’ve all seen on our own — or our parents’ — car mirrors, but we’ve probably taken is presence for granted. Have you ever wondered why a car’s mirror says this, and why the mirror was designed that way?
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“Objects in mirror are closer than they appear” from Jurassic Park
Photo: Universal Pictures
Most driver-side mirrors don’t carry the “Objects in mirror are closer than they appear” statement printed on them, but passenger mirrors do. That’s because they’re each different types of mirrors: the driver-side mirror is a flat, plane mirror (like one in your bathroom), while the passenger-side mirror is convex, with its center rounded outward. Plane mirrors reflect light rays from objects in a consistent, unaltered path, while convex mirrors allow rays from different directions to intersect at a focal point “within” the mirror.
The reason these two mirrors are shaped differently is because of purpose and function. The driver-side mirror needs to be accurate for traffic and distance reasons, while the passenger-side mirror needs to provide a wider visual field and to compensate for blind spots and its distance from the driver.
Thus, the inclusion of the disclaimer “Objects in mirror are closer than they appear” alerts drivers and passengers to the fact that, due to the curvature of the passenger-side mirror, the “distance” of the object as it appears on the mirror’s surface is different in real life than what it looks to be on the mirror’s reflective surface.
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Aaron is unashamed to be a native Clevelander and the proud driver of a Hyundai Veloster Turbo (which recently replaced his 1995 Saturn SC-2). He gleefully utilizes his background in theater, literature, and communication to dramatically recite his own articles to nearby youth. Mr. Widmar happily resides in Dayton, Ohio with his magnificent wife, Vicki, but is often on the road with her exploring new destinations. Aaron has high aspirations for his writing career but often gets distracted pondering the profound nature of the human condition and forgets what he was writing… See more articles by Aaron.