What is the characteristic of a virtual image?

A virtual image is characterized by being upright in orientation relative to the object. This is indeed a defining feature of virtual images created by certain types of mirrors and lenses, particularly concave mirrors or converging lenses when the object is placed within the focal length. These images cannot be cast on a screen because the light rays actually diverge rather than converge, making it impossible to physically project them onto a surface.

While some options may present characteristics associated with images, they do not accurately describe virtual images. For example, although virtual images are upright, they cannot be projected on a screen due to the nature of how they are formed. Converging rays typically produce real images when they converge, leading to confusion about image types. Thus, the key distinguishing feature of a virtual image is its upright nature, making it viewed the right side up compared to the original object.