What type of lens would produce a real and inverted image of an object?

A convex lens is the correct choice for producing a real and inverted image of an object. When parallel rays of light pass through a convex lens, they converge at a point called the focal point on the opposite side of the lens. If the object is placed outside the focal point (i.e., at a distance greater than the focal length), the lens will produce an image that is real, meaning that the light actually converges to form the image rather than appearing to diverge from a point.

Moreover, the real image produced by a convex lens is also inverted, which means that the image is upside down relative to the object. This characteristic is crucial in various applications, such as in cameras and projectors, where capturing a real, inverted image is necessary for clarity and effective reproduction of the scene.

In contrast, concave lenses diverge light rays, leading to virtual images that appear upright and are located on the same side as the object. A plane mirror reflects light to produce an image that is virtual and upright. Meanwhile, a convex mirror only produces virtual images that are also upright and smaller than the actual object. Thus, the unique property of a convex lens to create real, inverted images distinguishes it as the correct answer in this scenario.