[credits: myths.answers]
There are many urban legends and myths that everyone has heard at one time or another. Some typical urban legends involve things like the man with an axe in your backseat or saying Bloody Mary into a mirror. However, some myths involve things like two-way mirrors being planted in places like the bathroom or the changing rooms in retail stores. If you are in a room a mirror, there are ways for you to tell whether it is one way or two way.
What is a Two Way Mirror?
Two-way mirrors are made with two pieces of glass. The glass has a special coating on it that will allow for light to pass through it in two different directions. The coating that is used on the glass used to make a mirror is silver nitrate. The silver nitrate is what makes the glass have a reflective surface. The silver nitrate is used on two different pieces of glass that are then bonded together to form one piece.
Are Two Ways Mirrors Hung on a Wall?
At first glance, it is difficult to tell whether the mirror you are looking at is one way or two. However, mirrors that are two ways cannot be used in the same way as a regular mirror. Typically, two-way mirrors are used as windows. In order to be the most effective, the mirror will be built into the wall itself. Hanging a mirror that is two ways on a wall will prevent anyone from seeing through it.
Is There a Way to Test Two Way Mirrors?
There are many ways you can test to see if the mirror is two way or not. With a mirror that goes two ways, there has to be light in order to be able to see through it. If you have access to the other room, go in there and turn on the light. When you go back to your room, turn off the light and take a look through the mirror. If you are able to see the other room clearly through the mirror, then it is two ways.
How Does a Two Way Mirror Sound?
When something is hollow, it sounds like a drum when you tap on it. Something that is not hollow will have a sound that is muffled or dull. A regular mirror has a metal covering on the back. When you tap on a regular mirror hanging on a wall, it will sound low and muffled. A mirror that is two way will sound hollow and loud like a drum because of the two pieces of glass that are used.
How Does the Fingernail Test Reveal a Two Way Mirror?
Because a one way and a two-way mirror look identical when you first see one, there is a test called the fingernail test that can reveal the truth. The first step in the fingernail test is to place your finger against the mirror. You need to look closely at the glass that your fingernail is pressing into. In a regular mirror, there will be a space between your fingernail and the reflection. If your finger touches the mirror surface, and you see no space, then it is this is not a regular mirror, but one that reflects two ways.
There are many urban legends and myths that have been circulating around the world. One popular urban myth is about two way mirrors being installed in places like bathrooms and changing rooms. If you feel that the mirror in your fitting room is two ways, you can test it to be sure. Because this kind of mirror involves two pieces of glass, it will be part of the wall and will sound hollow when you knock on it.
