A light ray enters the system and is reflected once off each mirror. Through what angle is the ray turned?
a) 210 degrees
b) 180 degrees
c) 120 degrees
d) 150 degrees
2007-04-01 22:27:28 · 2 answers · asked by The one and only 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
If the two mirrors were angled at 90° to each other, then whatever angle the light ray entered, it would bounce once off each mirror and exit again parallel to the angle it came in. So it would be turned 180°. You can see that from similar right triangles.
http://www.physics.oregonstate.edu/~jansenh/COURSES/ph212_W06/LECTURE-NOTES/Lecture21.pdf
But if the mirrors are angled 58° toward each other, I don't think the light beam would just bounce once off each mirror and come out again. It would bounce around more than that before exiting. I don't know what angle it would have.
2007-04-02 15:39:44 · answer #1 · answered by Northstar 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm not 100% certain, but I believe it would be 180 degrees.
2007-04-02 05:53:35 · answer #2 · answered by Doctor Q 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋