Ray Optics: Reflection and Mirrors

Reflection and Mirrors: Audio Guided Solution

Problem 18:

Kerry Uss is studying the convex side of her soup spoon. She notices that her 3.8-cm tall nose appears to be 1.2 cm tall when positioned a distance of 2.4 cm from the spoon.
a. Determine the image distance for this particular object distance.
b. Determine the focal length of the convex side of the spoon.

Audio Guided Solution

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Habits of an Effective Problem Solver

  • Read the problem carefully and develop a mental picture of the physical situation. If necessary, sketch a simple diagram of the physical situation to help you visualize it.
  • Identify the known and unknown quantities in an organized manner. Equate given values to the symbols used to represent the corresponding quantity - e.g., do = 24.2 cm; di= 16.8 cm; f = ???.
  • Use physics formulas and conceptual reasoning to plot a strategy for solving for the unknown quantity.
  • Identify the appropriate formula(s) to use.
  • Perform substitutions and algebraic manipulations in order to solve for the unknown quantity.

Read About It!

Get more information on the topic of Reflection and Mirrors at The Physics Classroom Tutorial.

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