- #1
Periscope reflection, but it seems backwards
- Thread starter heatherro92
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- Reflection
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Homework Help Overview
The discussion revolves around a problem related to the reflection of light in a periscope setup, specifically focusing on the behavior of images formed by mirrors. Participants are exploring the relationships between the object and the images created by the mirrors, questioning their understanding of how reflections work in this context.
Discussion Character
- Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification
Approaches and Questions Raised
- Participants are attempting to identify the correct images formed by the mirrors and are questioning their initial assumptions about the positions of these images. There are discussions about extending the mirrors to find image positions and considerations about the distances involved in the reflections.
Discussion Status
The discussion is ongoing, with participants sharing their thoughts and attempting to clarify their understanding of the problem. Some have offered guidance on how to visualize the image positions by extending the mirrors, while others are still grappling with the implications of their findings and the nature of the reflections.
Contextual Notes
Participants are working within the constraints of a homework problem, which may limit the information available for a complete understanding. There is an emphasis on the properties of plane mirrors and the nature of image formation, which are being questioned and explored throughout the discussion.
- #2
heatherro92
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Then I thought the answer might be C and G, but that's also incorrect, I'm just not sure what to do!
- #3
PeterO
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heatherro92 said:
Extend the mirrors 1, so that you can find a point perpendicularly behind the mirror, and the same distance behind as well - as always happens with a flat mirror.
Now extend mirror 2 and repeat the above step for the final image position.
- #4
CWatters
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Perhaps remember that mirrors don't magnify an image so the image can't appear closer than the distance a light ray takes from the object to the eye via the mirrors.
- #5
heatherro92
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Then I would think B would be the image from 1, but then there is no image from 2... I mean D is perpendicular, but it is further away then the distance from the object to the original mirror
- #6
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As PeterO says, extend mirror 1 (in this case, up and to the right). If the object is at O and the image is at point X then you should find that the mirror perpendicularly bisects OX. That is not true of OB.heatherro92 said:
- #7
PeterO
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heatherro92 said:
You got B by extending the line from the object past the end of the existing mirror 1. That line is not perpendicular to the mirror.
I said extend mirror 1 - especially up to the right - then draw a line from the object that forms a right angle with the mirror.
Images in plane mirrors are DIRECTLY behind the mirror - so the line joining an object and and image is always perpendicular to the mirror.
- #8
CWatters
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