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Light and sound

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Question 16

A student investigates how light reflects off a plane mirror and how images are formed.

a.

Identify the two correct statements from the list below:

  1. The image formed by a plane mirror is virtual.
  2. Light waves are longitudinal waves.
  3. The angle of incidence is always equal to the angle of reflection.
  4. The image is located further behind the mirror than the object is in front of it.
  5. Light rays actually pass through the virtual image.
[2]
b.

The diagram below shows a light ray reflecting from a horizontal plane mirror. A diagram showing a horizontal plane mirror. An incident ray travels down and to the right, hitting the mirror's surface at a single point. A reflected ray travels up and to the right from that same point. A vertical dashed line, perpendicular to the mirror, is drawn at the point of incidence. The total angle between the incident ray and the reflected ray is 110^\circ.

What is the name of the dashed line perpendicular to the mirror surface?

[1]
c.

Calculate the angle of incidence for this ray of light.

[2]
d.

In a laboratory experiment, a student uses sighting pins to track rays and locate the position of an image of an object pin P P\,P in a vertical plane mirror. A layout diagram showing an object pin labeled P to the left of a vertical line representing a plane mirror. Below the level of P, two sighting pins are marked as dots aligned along a straight line that points towards the mirror. An observer's eye is positioned looking along this alignment towards the mirror. The straight line through the sighting pins has an arrow pointing away from the mirror towards the eye, showing the path of the reflected ray.

Step-by-step, describe how the student should find the position of the image on their diagram using geometric construction lines.

[3]
e.

Describe how the student can check and confirm that the position of the constructed image is correct using direct measurements with a ruler.

[2]

Light and sound Questions

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