Ray Optics: Reflection and Mirrors
Reflection and Mirrors: Audio Guided Solution
Problem 26:
A child at an amusement park stands in front of a concave mirror with a focal length of 73.9 cm. With great amusement, the child holds her cotton candy close to the mirror and observes that its image is magnified by a factor of five. Determine the object distance which creates this magnification of five.
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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