If a projector has a zoom ratio, what can this alter in the projection?

A zoom ratio in a projector allows the user to adjust the size of the projected image without moving the projector itself. This capability effectively changes the throw distance, which is the distance between the projector and the screen where the image is displayed. By altering the zoom ratio, you can project a larger image from a closer distance or a smaller image from a farther distance while keeping the projector stationary.

In contrast, the image height and the width of the screen are directly linked to the projector's settings and the physical size of the screen itself, but they don’t change as a result of zoom ratio adjustments in the same way. The aspect ratio, which defines the relationship between the width and height of the image, remains constant unless specifically altered in projector settings or screen selection. Therefore, understanding that zoom primarily affects the throw distance sheds light on how image size can be manipulated within a fixed space.