If Plane Mirrors form only virtual images, why can I obtain the real image of a laser beam that I shone on the Plane Mirror?

Question

I thought about this, and couldn't really come up with a suitable explanation.

Answer 1

Maybe this answer will help.

(seen from the top)

I think you are confusing the reflected beam with the image of the beam itself. The bottom part shows the real beam and the reflected beam (which is also real). This reflection is explained due to the fact that a laser beam is light indeed. However, the beam itself can be seen as clearly as a red solid bar. So, it is the "red bar" the one that has a virtual image (top side of the picture). Both the incident beam and the reflected beam have an image that you will see behind the mirror.