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Car mirrors are uncoated on the front surface and silvered
Chapter 30, Problem 57TAE(choose chapter or problem)
Car mirrors are uncoated on the front surface and silvered on the back surface. When the mirror is properly adjusted, light from behind reflects from the silvered surface into the driver’s eyes. Good. But this is not so good at nighttime with the glare of headlights behind. This is solved by the wedge shape of the mirror (see the sketch). When the mirror is tilted slightly upward to the “nighttime” position, glare is directed upward toward the ceiling, away from the driver’s eyes. Yet the driver can still see cars behind in the mirror. Explain.
Questions & Answers
QUESTION:
Car mirrors are uncoated on the front surface and silvered on the back surface. When the mirror is properly adjusted, light from behind reflects from the silvered surface into the driver’s eyes. Good. But this is not so good at nighttime with the glare of headlights behind. This is solved by the wedge shape of the mirror (see the sketch). When the mirror is tilted slightly upward to the “nighttime” position, glare is directed upward toward the ceiling, away from the driver’s eyes. Yet the driver can still see cars behind in the mirror. Explain.
ANSWER:
Step 1 of 2
The mirror's two surfaces reflect light. The silvered surface reflects the majority of the remaining incident light, with the front surface reflecting only around 