Teaching Physics with the Physics Suite

Edward F. Redish

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Who sees what?

In the figure below is shown a small object (represented by an arrow) in front of a curved mirror. At the tip of the arrow is a red dot. The mirror is a piece of a sphere. The center of the sphere is marked in the picture with an x. The triangular objects are the eyes corresponding to three different observers.

For each question, explain how you got your result. Be sure to include a ray diagram as part of your explanation.

  1. How many red dots will the observer at position A see? Where will the dots appear to be? Specify quantitatively how far from the mirror the dots will appear to be and how far off the axis they will be.
  2. How many red dots will the observer at position B see? Explain how you know.
  3. How many red dots will the observer at position C see? Explain how you know.

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Page last modified October 31, 2002: OP10