Mind-Bending Mirror Puzzle: Experience the Impossible in Bali

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers around a unique optical illusion experienced in a hotel in Bali, where a light reflection from a street lamp onto a mirror creates two distinct shadows of a goddess statue, allowing the participant to seemingly shake hands with their own shadow. The phenomenon is attributed to basic principles of light reflection rather than relativity, as clarified by participants. The interaction highlights the fascinating effects of light and perspective in everyday environments.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic optics, specifically light reflection.
  • Familiarity with the concept of shadows and their formation.
  • Knowledge of spatial relationships in a three-dimensional environment.
  • Basic principles of physics, particularly those related to light behavior.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the principles of light reflection and refraction.
  • Explore optical illusions and their psychological effects.
  • Study the physics of shadows and how they are created.
  • Investigate the role of perspective in visual perception.
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for physics enthusiasts, optical illusion artists, and anyone interested in the interplay between light and perception in everyday settings.

PatrickPowers
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This actually happened to me in a hotel in Bali.

It was night time and a light from the street was reflecting off of the mirror onto the wall. In front of the mirror was a statue of a goddess. Projected onto the wall were two separate shadows of the goddess, rotated with respect to one another about 90 degrees.

I went to the mirror, stuck my arm into the light, and was able to have my two shadow arms appear to shake hands.

How can this be?
 
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Hi,

Would you please provide me with a schematic design of all items in the room that you have seen,which shows the position of the things( light,mirror,statue,wall and yourself) to each other?
 
I can't imagine how this has anything to do with relativity! Exactly how fast were you going at the time?
 
HallsofIvy said:
I can't imagine how this has anything to do with relativity! Exactly how fast were you going at the time?

I am sure his speed was 0 c! NOW its a relativity problem
 
HallsofIvy said:
I can't imagine how this has anything to do with relativity! Exactly how fast were you going at the time?


Sorry. It has nothing to do with relativity. It should be in General Physics.

It's not a hard problem, but it is a very cool effect. I don't know why it isn't better known.
 
As Einstein said, "One image is direct, the other is from the light refledted off the mirror."
 

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