Two plane mirrors are separated by 120°, as the drawing illustrates. If a ray strikes mirror M1 at a theta1 = 57° angle of incidence, at what angle theta2 does it leave mirror M2?
http://www.webassign.net/CJ/25_01alt.gif
I understand that 57 degrees will become the angle of reflection and that the lower angle is 33 degrees after this I am confused as to what happens. Any help is appreciated. Thanks!
2007-03-06 10:13:44 · 2 answers · asked by scarletandgray07 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Yeah, it just clicked when I turned the paper sideways. None the less, this is a good explanation of the problem. Thanks!
2007-03-06 10:30:42 · update #1
Follow this:
Lower left angle of 1st = 90 - θ
Lower right angle of 1st = 90 - θ
180 = Lower right angle of 1st + 120 + Lower left angle of 2nd
180 = 90 - θ + 120 + x
x = θ - 30 = Lower right angle of 2nd
The answer you seek is 90 - x = 120 - θ = 120 - 57 = 63
1) Understand that reflections are symmetrical
2) Understand that the 3 angles of a triangle always add up to 180
2007-03-06 10:23:41 · answer #1 · answered by Scythian1950 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
just remember all triangles internal angles add upto 180 degs
2007-03-06 10:35:49 · answer #2 · answered by fast eddie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋