Ray Optics: Reflection and Mirrors

Reflection and Mirrors: Audio Guided Solution

Problem 20:

Baxter Nachure lives in the country along Sinewave road. It is difficult to pull out of the driveway onto the road since the road is curved and trees prevent him from seeing around the corner. He recently installed a large convex mirror at one of the curves to give him a wider angle of view. It has a focal length of -1.54 meters. Determine the magnification of an oncoming car located 35.8 m from the mirror.

Audio Guided Solution

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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