would it be possible to view your body from head-to-toe, while standing in front of a plane mirror that is only as tall as you? this is in the chapter mirror on my physics books

Yes, and I think you omitted the word "half" after "only".

To understand whether it is possible to view your body from head-to-toe while standing in front of a plane mirror that is only as tall as you, let's break it down step by step.

1. The concept of reflection: When light rays hit a surface, like a mirror, they bounce back. This phenomenon is called reflection. A plane mirror reflects light rays such that the angle of incidence (the angle at which the light ray hits the mirror) is equal to the angle of reflection (the angle at which the light ray bounces back).

2. How we see objects in a mirror: When we see an object in a mirror, light reflects off the object, hits the mirror, and then reaches our eyes. Our brain processes this reflected light to form a mirror image.

Now, let's consider the situation you described:

If you stand in front of a plane mirror that is only as tall as you, the mirror will reflect your image assuming the mirror is placed vertically. The mirror image will be the same height as you, but it will appear to be behind the mirror.

To see your body from head-to-toe, you would need to be able to see the lower part of your body, which is obstructed by the mirror. Since the mirror's height matches your height, it means half of your body will be visible in the mirror, from head to waist. The other half will be hidden behind the mirror.

In order to view your entire body from head-to-toe, you would need a taller mirror to capture the full reflection. Alternatively, you could use multiple mirrors positioned strategically to see different parts of your body simultaneously. For example, you could place a lower mirror angled upwards to see your lower body while looking at a taller mirror reflecting your upper body.

In conclusion, if you stand in front of a plane mirror that is only as tall as you, it is not possible to view your body from head-to-toe in a single reflection.