Position of Final Image in Concave Mirror with Glass Block

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the positioning of the final image formed by a concave mirror when a glass block is placed in front of it. The problem involves understanding the effects of the glass block's thickness and refractive index on the image formation, with a focal length of the mirror provided.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore different potential positions for the final image, including at the center of curvature and at a calculated distance of 105 cm from the mirror. There are discussions about the implications of light refraction as it passes through the glass block and how this affects the effective object distance.

Discussion Status

There is ongoing exploration of the problem, with participants questioning the assumptions made about image shift and the behavior of light at the block-mirror interface. Some suggest drawing ray diagrams for clarity, while others express uncertainty about the correctness of their calculations and interpretations.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the complexity introduced by the glass block and the need to consider the effects of refraction. There are also mentions of the symmetry of Snell's law and how it may influence the behavior of light in this setup. The original problem constraints regarding the separation between the block and mirror are also discussed.

Volcano
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Homework Statement



A glass block of thickness 60 cm and refractive index 4/3 is placed in front of a concave mirror. A light source is then placed on the center of curvature of the concave mirror. Find the position of the final image formed. (Focal length is 30 cm)

mirr_glass.jpg

Homework Equations



##\frac{1}{f} = \frac{1}{p} + \frac{1}{q}##

##Shift = d (1 - \frac{1}{n})##

The Attempt at a Solution



I found two different results as final position of the image:

1. At the center of curvature. Because there is no enough space to shift for beams which coming from the source.

2. Its distance from concave mirror is 105 cm. (Calculations are below)

##Shift = 60-60.(\frac{3}{4})=15 cm##

At first the effective distance of object (light source) is shifted towards the mirror by an amount of 15 cm. Then, for concave mirror

##\frac{1}{f} = \frac{1}{p} + \frac{1}{q}##

##\frac{1}{30} = \frac{1}{60-15} + \frac{1}{q} => q= 90 cm##

But since the beams will shift (15 cm), the final position of image will be at 90 +15 = 105 cm.

Which is correct, if any :(
 
Last edited:
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Volcano said:
At the center of curvature. Because there is no enough space to shift for beams which coming from the source.
the reason may not be space -availability;
draw ray diagrams then you can get the real picture
 
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Volcano said:

Homework Statement



A glass block of thickness 60 cm and refractive index 4/3 is placed in front of a concave mirror. A light source is then placed on the center of curvature of the concave mirror. Find the position of the final image formed. (Focal length is 30 cm)

mirr_glass.jpg

Homework Equations



##\frac{1}{f} = \frac{1}{p} + \frac{1}{q}##

##Shift = d (1 - \frac{1}{n})##

The Attempt at a Solution



I found two different results as final position of the image:

1. At the center of curvature. Because there is no enough space to shift for beams which coming from the source.

2. Its distance from concave mirror is 105 cm. (Calculations are below)

##Shift = 60-60.(\frac{3}{4})=15 cm##

At first the effective distance of object (light source) is shifted towards the mirror by an amount of 15 cm. Then, for concave mirror

##\frac{1}{f} = \frac{1}{p} + \frac{1}{q}##

##\frac{1}{30} = \frac{1}{60-15} + \frac{1}{q} => q= 90 cm##

But since the beams will shift (15 cm), the final position of image will be at 90 +15 = 105 cm.

Which is correct, if any :(

draw ray diagrams then write equations -that will be correct procedure-otherwise the equations can not tell you the correctness/otherwise of conclusions.
 
I don't think there will be an image shift, since although the beams are refracted as they enter the block, to the mirror they still seem to originate from its centre of curvature. Same happens when they exit again.
 
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mirr_glass2.jpg


Is it correct?

I can not draw ray diagrams for the second one (105 cm).
 
I think at the block mirror interface one would get refraction both ways which leads to complications.
Assume a slight separation between the block and mirror to draw the ray diagram.
 
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mirr_glass3.png


Slightly big separation but is it ok?
 
Volcano said:
Is it correct?

I can not draw ray diagrams for the second one (105 cm).

more or less correct... only the curvature of mirror should be circular and the rays are radial so that its a normal incidence making an angle 90 degrees with the element of the surface -tangential at the point of incidence.
so one does not get refraction -only the light rays will be moving slower; the surface of the medium is also spherical and rays are coming out at centre of curvature.
Volcano said:
Slightly big separation but is it ok?

i think such separaations are not in the orginal problem.
more over the shape of refracting medium is also convex of the same radius of curvature as mirror- so rays will be normally going out to mirror and can not refract at perpendicular incidence from medium to air however thin it may be.
 
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It seems it does not make a difference to the problem whether there is a thin separation or not. Due to the symmetry of Snell's law the beam still ends up being reflected back at the original incident angle inside of the block.
 
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  • #10
Is this?

mirr_glass4.jpg
(Sorry, I'm taking your time)
 
  • #11
More like this since the beam arrives along the normal to the surfaces
P3300157.JPG
 
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  • #12
andrevdh said:
More like this since the beam arrives along the normal to the surfaces
View attachment 98206
Ah! I got it. You meant that the separation between the block and mirror should be parallel to both surfaces. Thank you very much. Greatly apreciated.
 
  • #13
The mistake that you made in the calculation might be due to the fact that you assumed that f stays the same in the block.
For instance the f lengthens if a lens is placed in water due to the fact that the light slows down, that is less refraction takes place in water than in air.
 
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  • #14
andrevdh said:
The mistake that you made in the calculation might be due to the fact that you assumed that f stays the same in the block.
For instance the f lengthens if a lens is placed in water due to the fact that the light slows down, that is less refraction takes place in water than in air.
Definetly. I assumed, that stays the same place and the block as a rectangular prism.
 

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