The discussion centers on the optical behavior of a two-way mirror when viewed from the observer's side. It clarifies that an ideal one-way mirror allows light to pass only in one direction, resulting in the observer seeing nothing. In contrast, a real two-way mirror is partially transparent and reflective, allowing the observer to see a dim reflection of themselves due to light transmission from the subject room. The setup is compared to a police interrogation room, where the lighting conditions play a crucial role in visibility.
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Assuming an ideal one-way mirror (perfectly transparent one direction and perfectly reflective the other so that light only goes one way, towards you), then you would see nothing.x G r E e D said:Lets say you are looking through a two way mirror on the side where you can see through it, and there is a mirror on the other side. What would you see? So there is two mirrors back to back and you can see through one of them. So when the light bounces off the first mirror and trys to go back through to where you are, and it theoreticaly can't because its only a two way mirror.
No because light can't pass through the mirror that you are looking through towards you. If you were on the other side yourself. Think of it as if you were at a police station in an interogation room where you are the cop looking at the suspect, and he can't see you. Put a mirror where the suspect is and then what will see. Probably nothing since the light can't pass through it. Therefore you see a cancelation of light waves making it black.calvinuk said:Wouldn't you see your own reflection?
It's still not clear to me what you are asking about. There are two sides/rooms to the 2-way mirror setup:x G r E e D said:No because light can't pass through the mirror that you are looking through towards you. If you were on the other side yourself. Think of it as if you were at a police station in an interogation room where you are the cop looking at the suspect, and he can't see you.
You added a regular mirror to the subject room, I presume. What will who see? Who's looking at that mirror? The suspect? The observer?Put a mirror where the suspect is and then what will see.
The observer viewing things from behind the 2-way mirror sees the light from within the subject room (a portion of that light is transmitted through the 2-way mirror). So he sees whatever's in the room reflected off the regular mirror.Probably nothing since the light can't pass through it. Therefore you see a cancelation of light waves making it black.