Chapter 10.3, Problem 1aT

A pin is placed In front of a cylindrical mirror as shown in the top view diagram at right. Lines A-E represent some of the light rays from the pin that reach the mirror. Points M and N represent the locations of two observers.

You have been provided with enlargement of this top view diagram.

1. Use a ruler and a protractor to draw the reflected rays on the enlargement. (Hint: The center of the cylindrical mirror is marked on the diagram.)

Describe how you determined the direction of each reflected ray.

2. For each of the reflected rays, use a dashed line to show the direction from which the reflected ray appears to have come.

Do all of the reflected rays appear to have come from the same point?

3. On the diagram. draw a ray. A between rays A and B. Draw the corresponding reflected ray.

Which more nearly appear to pass through the same point: the reflected rays A, A’, and B or the reflected rays A, B, and C?

Determine and label the approximate location at which an observer at N would see an image of the pin.

Would the observers at M and N agree on the location of the image of the pin? Explain how you can tell from your ray diagram.

Would the observers at M and N agree on the location of the image of the pin? Explain how you can tell from your ray diagram.

4. Ask a tutorial instructor for a semi-cylindrical mirror. Place the mirror on the enlargement and use the method of parallax to check your predictions. (You may find it helpful to tape the mirror onto the diagram.) If there are any inconsistencies between your predictions and your observations, resolve the inconsistencies.