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Why does a mirror flip left and right, but not up and down?

Face north toward a mirror and point east with your right hand. Your reflection points east too. Point up, and it points up. Point north, at the glass, and it points south.

So a mirror only reverses in and out.

Sides seem swapped because you picture yourself turned around in the reflection's place, facing south. Then that east-pointing hand would be your left. Turning around swaps left and right but keeps your head up.

Source: desy.de

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