Two plane mirrors, A and B, are separated by 30.0 cm facing each other. An object is placed 20 cm from mirror A. Locate the first two nearest image formed by each mirror.
90cm
mirror and self
To locate the image formed by each mirror, we can use the laws of reflection.
The first step is to determine the path of light rays from the object to the mirrors.
For mirror A:
- Draw a line from the object (O) perpendicular to mirror A. This is called the incident ray.
- At the point of incidence, draw a line that makes an equal angle with the normal to the mirror. This is called the reflected ray.
For mirror B:
- Continue the reflected ray from mirror A. This ray becomes the incident ray for mirror B.
- Draw a line from the incident ray's point of incidence on mirror B perpendicular to mirror B. This is called the reflected ray from mirror B.
Now, we need to analyze the position of the images formed by each mirror.
For mirror A:
- Extend the reflected ray from mirror A behind the mirror.
- The image is formed where this extended reflected ray meets the incident ray. Let's call this point I1 (the first image formed by mirror A).
For mirror B:
- Extend the reflected ray from mirror B behind the mirror.
- The image formed by mirror A serves as the object for mirror B. So, position the object (O2) for mirror B at the location of the first image formed by mirror A (I1).
- Draw an incident ray from O2 to mirror B.
- Draw the reflected ray from mirror B.
- The image is formed where this reflected ray meets the incident ray. Let's call this point I2 (the second image formed by mirror B).
Now, we have located the first two nearest images formed by each mirror:
- The first image formed by mirror A (I1) is the point where the extended reflected ray from mirror A meets the incident ray.
- The second image formed by mirror B (I2) is the point where the reflected ray from mirror B meets the incident ray from the object (O2).
Remember to measure distances from the mirror perpendicularly to determine the position of the images.