Solution Found!
Show that when light reflects from two mirrors that meet
Chapter 25, Problem 2(choose chapter or problem)
Show that when light reflects from two mirrors that meet each other at a right angle, the outgoing ray is parallel to the incoming ray, as illustrated in the following figure.
Figure 25.51 A corner reflector sends the reflected ray back in a direction parallel to the incident ray, independent of incoming direction.
Questions & Answers
QUESTION:
Show that when light reflects from two mirrors that meet each other at a right angle, the outgoing ray is parallel to the incoming ray, as illustrated in the following figure.
Figure 25.51 A corner reflector sends the reflected ray back in a direction parallel to the incident ray, independent of incoming direction.
ANSWER:Solution 2PE
Assume the incident ray reflects at an angle ∅ with the first mirror. Since both mirror meet each other at a right angle, so the first reflection ray forms a right triangle with the two mirrors as shown in below figure:
o - ∅
Now from the figure, the angle between the line parallel to the first mirror and outgoing ray is ∅2 and,
∅