- #1
Doc Brown
- 18
- 0
First off, I apologise for this basic (and rather random) question. I am not educated in this area, in fact I have no education in physics whatsoever, but an idea for an invention came to me over the weekend and whether it is feasible or not depends on the answer to this question. I have enjoyed reading these forums before and thought this was a good place to try and find an answer.
Here goes:
If I hold a flat mirror at an angle outdoors and direct the sunlight against a wall, it appears on the wall in a similar shape and size to the dimensions of the mirror I am reflecting it off. My question is, is it possible - perhaps using a mirror with a rounded edge - to create a beam of sunlight larger than the surface area of the mirror I am reflecting it off? If so, what shape and properties would a mirror need to have in order to divert the sunlight off it and create a ray of light with a much larger surface area than that of the mirror itself? Is this possible without breaking the light into lots of smaller rays in the way a mirrorball does?
Many thanks for any input, and thanks for bearing with me!
Here goes:
If I hold a flat mirror at an angle outdoors and direct the sunlight against a wall, it appears on the wall in a similar shape and size to the dimensions of the mirror I am reflecting it off. My question is, is it possible - perhaps using a mirror with a rounded edge - to create a beam of sunlight larger than the surface area of the mirror I am reflecting it off? If so, what shape and properties would a mirror need to have in order to divert the sunlight off it and create a ray of light with a much larger surface area than that of the mirror itself? Is this possible without breaking the light into lots of smaller rays in the way a mirrorball does?
Many thanks for any input, and thanks for bearing with me!