How High Should the Mirror Be Placed for Full Reflection?

AI Thread Summary
To determine the appropriate height for a mirror to allow a man standing 1.85m tall to see his full reflection, it is essential to consider the height of his eyes, which are 10 cm below the top of his head, making them 1.75m from the floor. The discussion highlights that a full-length mirror should ideally be half the height of the person, suggesting a minimum mirror length of 92.5 cm. The placement of the mirror is crucial; if it is positioned at eye level, the man may only see his upper body, while a floor-level mirror would allow visibility of his feet. The conversation emphasizes the need for clarity in the problem statement regarding the mirror's height and size to ensure full reflection. Ultimately, the setup of the mirror height is vital for achieving a complete view of the individual's body.
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Homework Statement


A man stands 1.85m in front of a mirror hanging on a wall. His eyes are 10 cm below the top of his head. At what height from the floor, must the mirror be placed?

Homework Equations



Snells Law: n1*sin(omega)1=n2*sin(omega)2

The Attempt at a Solution



I converted everything to cm so 1.85= 185 cm
and 185-10 = 175 which is the height from his eyes downward
I just do not understand how to set it up where I could possible find the height of the mirror!
 
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Welcome to PF;
The problem statement is incomplete - how would the man know if the mirror was the right height or not?
"At what height from the floor, must the mirror be placed"... to do what?

i.e. Usually the idea is that the Man has to be able to see his entire body in the mirror - in which case we also need to know the height of the mirror. If it is a full-length mirror, then it can sit on the floor. Could you work out the minimum size of mirror that would let the man see his entire body at that distance?
 
Well Question a) was: What is the shortest mirror which without being moved, will permit the man to see his entire body? I solved this knowing that to see a full height of a person, he needs a mirror which has a length of half his height, which is 185/2 = 92.5 But I don't understand what does this have to do the question b)? That all they give me
 
Well - if the mirror was sitting on the floor - would he be able to see his whole body? Or just his feet?
What about if the bottom of the mirror were level with his eyes?
 
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