Skip to main content

What is the point at which the incident ray falls on the mirror called? If a ray of light is incident on a plane mirror at an angle of 30 degrees,...

Let's review reflection of light rays from a plane mirror. 


When a ray of light is incident on a plane mirror, it is known as an incident ray and it falls on the mirror at a point known as the point of incidence. If a normal to the mirror is drawn at the point of incidence, we find that the angle made by the incident ray with this normal (also known as angle of...

Let's review reflection of light rays from a plane mirror. 


When a ray of light is incident on a plane mirror, it is known as an incident ray and it falls on the mirror at a point known as the point of incidence. If a normal to the mirror is drawn at the point of incidence, we find that the angle made by the incident ray with this normal (also known as angle of incidence) is equal to angle made by the reflected ray with this normal. Thus, if a light ray is incident at an angle of 30 degrees to the mirror, its angle of incidence is 60 degrees (= 90 - 30 degrees) and hence its angle of reflection would also be 60 degrees. If a light ray is normal to the mirror, the angle of incidence and angle of reflection will both be 0 degrees and the ray will retrace its path. The images made by a plane mirror are virtual images and the distance of an object in front of the mirror is equal to the distance of the image behind the mirror.


Hope this helps. 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Can you analyze the poem "Absolution" by Siegfried Sassoon?

Sure! Siegfried Sassoon fought in World War I and was wounded in battle; he spent much of his life speaking out against war, and these pacifist feelings are easy to see in his poems. This one, "Absolution," was published in 1917, the same year that Sassoon was hospitalized for what we know today as post-traumatic stress disorder. "Absolution" is a short poem that contains three stanzas of four lines each. The word "absolution" means "forgiveness," and... Sure! Siegfried Sassoon fought in World War I and was wounded in battle; he spent much of his life speaking out against war, and these pacifist feelings are easy to see in his poems. This one, "Absolution," was published in 1917, the same year that Sassoon was hospitalized for what we know today as post-traumatic stress disorder. "Absolution" is a short poem that contains three stanzas of four lines each. The word "absolution" means "forgiveness," and the v...

How and why does James Gatz become Jay Gatsby? Describe the young Gatsby/Gatz.

James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune,... James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune, whereas they arose from well-to-do families. Gatz became Gatsby through determination and discipline. At the end of the novel, the narr...

In chapter one of The Great Gatsby, what advice does Nick's father give him? How does this make him a good person to tell this story?

Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches... Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches into a discussion of how pe...