Every rear view mirror I've seen in cars has the option of 'flipping it back' to reduce glare from headlights behind you. If you look in the mirror, it looks like the reflection is coming from the roof of the car internally. How is this possible? The roof of my car is fabric, it is not reflective. Even when the mirror is in a normal position, if I duck my head down I can clearly see the reflection off the roof of the car. If I turn my head around, there is no reflection.
2007-01-05 02:20:48 · 4 answers · asked by Pfo 7 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
The mirror is designed with two angles at which it reflects - one of which is slighly dimmed. When you flip the lever, your are switching the angle so that the dimmed reflection is aimed towards you. The other reflection is still there - its just pointing somewhere where it doesn't cause you glare.
I believe it works by the glass having a front and back surface that are at slightly different angles (the glass would be tapered in section if you sliced it from top to bottom). One reflection comes from the front surface of the glass, and the other from the rear surface.
2007-01-05 03:50:40 · answer #1 · answered by Neil 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You're still using the mirror to see through the back of the car, it's just that with that angle, the reflection isn't as direct, so that headlights from cars behind you don't shine directly into your eyes.
When the mirror is angled like that, you aren't using the roof of your car for reflection, your using the mirror still, only you're using it like a piece of glass rather than a mirror. The same way you're able to look at the car window from standing outside and see your reflection is the way that you use the rear view mirror when flipped up. The 'mirror' shows you the roof of the car, but the 'glass' allows you to see through the rear of the car.
2007-01-05 10:55:48 · answer #2 · answered by Mister 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's not a reflection. That's just the part of the mirror that darkens the reflections from behind you. That switch just changes the angle of the mirror and where it goes.
If you don't want to see it, don't duck your head down.
2007-01-05 10:49:11 · answer #3 · answered by Ron Porkmore 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't be so anal'.
2007-01-05 10:29:45 · answer #4 · answered by Wabbit 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋