Two plane mirrors are inclined at an angle θ. A ray of light is reflected from the first mirror

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Two plane mirrors are inclined at an angle θ. A ray of light...

Two plane mirrors are inclined at an angle $\theta$. A ray of light is reflected from the first mirror and is then incident on the second mirror from which it is again reflected. What is deviation of incident ray ? (a) $360^{\circ}+2 \theta$ (b) $360^{\circ}-\theta$ (c) $360^{\circ}-2 \theta$ (d) $360^{\circ}+\theta$

Two plane mirrors are inclined at an angle $\theta$. A ray of light is reflected from the first mirror and is then incident on the second mirror from which it is again reflected. What is deviation of incident ray ?
(a) $360^{\circ}+2 \theta$
(b) $360^{\circ}-\theta$
(c) $360^{\circ}-2 \theta$
(d) $360^{\circ}+\theta$

Key Concepts

Law of Reflection

This principle states that when a light ray strikes a reflective surface, the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection. It is a fundamental concept in geometric optics that underpins how light behaves when interacting with flat reflective surfaces, ensuring that the incoming and outgoing paths are symmetrically related about the normal to the surface.

Deviation of Light Rays

The deviation of a light ray is the measure of the change in direction between its incoming path and its outgoing path after undergoing reflection. In optical systems, this concept is used to analyze how light is redirected, and it plays a critical role in applications where the precise control or measurement of light paths is needed.

Multiple Reflection in Plane Mirrors

When a light ray undergoes successive reflections from more than one plane mirror, each reflection contributes to the overall change in the ray’s direction. The final direction of the ray is determined by the cumulative effect of all individual reflections, which can be calculated by applying the law of reflection at each mirror sequentially.

Inclination Angle Between Mirrors

The angle between two reflecting surfaces crucially affects the net deviation of a light ray that reflects off both surfaces. The geometry of the arrangement—in particular, the angular separation between the mirrors—dictates the relationship between the individual reflections and the overall redirection of the light beam.

Transcript

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