2006-10-14 12:34:17 · 6 answers · asked by allsphears 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Maybe I don't understand the question.
A rear-view mirror usually has an internal piece that can be repositioned by flipping/moving a lever (without moving the outside of the mirror) to act like sunglasses for the mirror and keep headlights from glaring at you.
If you are talking about the mirror being (like a truck/camper mirror) able to move out on the arm, you could reposition the focal point of the mirror to give a similar view.
2006-10-14 12:45:18 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
A rearview mirror is actually 2 mirrors, one on the front edge of the glass and one on the back. The one on the back is a true mirror that reflects 100% of the light (about). The one on the front reflects a smaller amount - think of looking at a window from a lit room after dark, when you see your reflection in the glass.
Under normal conditions the mirror is set up so you see the reflection from the front of the mirror. This will cover over the back reflectioon. Also, normally the back reflection your eye would see is the top of the car, which is pretty featureless, so you wouldn't notice it even if you could see part of it. At night when you flip the mirror the front mirror reflects some of the light elsewhere than your eye, and so the reflection of the jerk behind you with his high beams on has only a small percentage of the actual brightness.
2006-10-14 21:06:05 · answer #2 · answered by sofarsogood 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The two positions switch between reflection from the backside of the mirror, which is silvered and results in something on the order of 90% reflection, while the other position results in reflection from the front side of the mirror, which is on the order of 4%. A careful examination of the reflections from the mirrow will show the different reflections with about 40º offset between the front and back reflections, which is caused by the wedged construction of the mirror.
2006-10-14 20:20:04 · answer #3 · answered by arbiter007 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The static background, moves away (backwards). Yet an overtaking car, appears in the opposite direction - moving towards you (forwards), -all at the same angle.
2006-10-14 19:51:35 · answer #4 · answered by Byjiar 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The angles are all the same degrees. That makes it equal.
2006-10-14 19:39:03 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
it is the same angles just different light blocking ?
2006-10-14 19:48:02 · answer #6 · answered by Elaine814 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋