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Re: Double concave mirror toy

Hi,
I think the term "reflect" may be imperfect in
this case. If one tries this with a mirror as the
object, I do not think one will get the angle of
reflection equals the angle on incidence at the
image plane.

It certainly does not for the simpler system
consisting of an object and lens forming a real
image. Consider a mirror normal to the axis of
the lens. Shine the laser on the image, parallel
to the axis of the lens. If the law of angle of
reflection held, the laser light would return
co-linear with the incoming beam and a minor bit
of ray tracing shows it does not.
But in this geometry, light through the part of
the image corresponding to the axis of the lens,
will appear to obey the law of angles for
reflection.

Thanks
Roger Haar




"Greenberg, Jon" wrote:

Scott, the IMAGE reflects the laser? How can that be?

----------
From: Scott Goelzer
Reply To: phys-l@lists.nau.edu: Forum for Physics Educators
Sent: Tuesday, May 7, 2002 1:23 PM
To: PHYS-L@lists.nau.edu
Subject: Re: Double concave mirror toy

Just did this! How cool. Took most everyone in the department by surprise.

Thanks
Scott

*****************************
S.Goelzer
Physics Teacher
Coe - Brown Northwood Academy
Northwood NH 03261
603-942-5531 ext43
sgoelzer@coebrownacademy.com
*****************************



on 5/7/02 9:20 AM, Tom Bross at Tbross@AOL.COM wrote:

Try shining a laser pointer on the real image. Ask students why
something
you can't touch seems to reflect light.

Tom Bross




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