Question

For what angle of incidence at the first mirror will this ray strike the midpoint of the second mirror (which is 28.0 cmcm long) after reflecting from the first mirror

Answer 1

This question is incomplete, the complete question is;

Two plane mirrors intersect at right angles. A laser beam strikes the first of them at a point 11.5 cm from their point of intersection, as shown in the figure.

For what angle of incidence at the first mirror will this ray strike the midpoint of the second mirror (which is 28.0 cmcm long) after reflecting from the first mirror

Answer: angle of incidence is 39.4°

Explanation:

Given that;

two plain mirrors intersect at right angle (90°)

distance d = 11.5 cm

S = 28.0 cm

Now the angle that the reflection ray males with first the mirror equal theta  (∅)

so

tan∅ = (S/2) / d

tan∅ = (28/2) / 11.5

tan∅ = 14 / 11.5

tan∅ = 1.2173

∅ = tan⁻¹ (1.2173)

∅ = 50.6°

so angle of incidence = 90° - ∅

= 90° - 50.6°

= 39.4°

Therefore angle of incidence is 39.4°