Optics+Lesson+2

The first optics lesson showed you how to use an isosceles triangle to predict reflection angles. This works well when both objects are the same distance from the mirror. When they are not, a different tool is useful. This tool is called the Law of Reflection, and it refers to an imaginary line, called a "normal line". It also asks you to think of light rays as single lines, when in reality your eye sees lots of light rays at the same time.

To start thinking of light as individual rays, look through a straw at a mirror. Move the straw to all parts of the mirror. What do you see at each angle?

Now, open the Omnigraffle file on the Courses folder to learn how to predict what you will see for each angle of the straw!

This this [|quiz] to see if you are right!