Introduction:
A pinhole camera is a simple camera that uses a tiny hole instead of a lens to capture images. When light passes through this small hole, it creates an inverted image on the camera's film or image sensor. This phenomenon may seem counterintuitive, but it can be explained by understanding the principles of light and optics.

Explanation:
1. Light Propagation:
- When light travels through a small hole, it spreads out and forms a cone-like shape on the opposite side.
- This is known as the "cone of light" or "light cone."
- The size of the hole determines the angle of the cone of light.

2. Ray Tracing:
- To understand why the image is inverted, we can use the concept of ray tracing.
- When light rays pass through the pinhole, they travel in straight lines.
- Rays from the top of an object pass through the bottom of the pinhole, while rays from the bottom of an object pass through the top of the pinhole.
- This causes the rays to cross each other, resulting in an inverted image.

3. Image Formation:
- The pinhole camera's film or image sensor is placed on the opposite side of the pinhole.
- As the light rays converge and intersect, they create an image on the film or image sensor.
- The image formed is a projection of the object being photographed.

4. Size and Distance:
- The size of the pinhole affects the sharpness of the image. A smaller hole allows for a sharper image, but it also reduces the amount of light entering the camera.
- The distance between the pinhole and the film or image sensor also affects the image. The farther the film or sensor is from the pinhole, the larger the image will be.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, a pinhole camera produces an inverted image because of the way light rays propagate and intersect when passing through a small hole. The inverted image is formed on the film or image sensor, resulting in a unique and intriguing photographic effect. Understanding the principles of light and optics helps us comprehend why the image appears inverted and how the pinhole camera works.