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Hello, I need help with this question: 20. Two flat, rectangular mirrors, both perpendicular to a horizontal sheet of paper, are set edge to edge
Hello, I need help with this question:
20. Two flat, rectangular mirrors, both perpendicular to a horizontal sheet of paper, are set edge to edge with their reflecting surfaces perpendicular to each other. (a) A light ray in the plane of the paper strikes one of the mirrors at an arbitrary angle of incidence 6,. Prove that the final direction of the ray, after reflection from both mirrors, is opposite its initial direction. (b) What If? Now assume the paper is replaced with a third flat mirror, touching edges with the other two and perpen- dicular to both, creating a corner-cube retroreflector (Fig. 35.8a). A ray of light is incident from any direc- tion within the octant of space bounded by the reflect- ing surfaces. Argue that the ray will reflect once from each mirror and that its final direction will be oppo- site its original direction. The Apollo 11 astronauts placed a panel of corner-cube retroreflectors on the Moon. Analysis of timing data taken with it reveals that the radius of the Moon's orbit is increasing at the rate of 3.8 cm/yr as it loses kinetic energy because of tidal frictionStep by Step Solution
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