Illinois PER Interactive Examples: Three Mirrors

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Detail Page

written by Gary Gladding
published by the University of llinois Physics Education Research Group

This is an interactive homework problem on the topic of light reflection. Three mirrors are arranged so that light hits the first mirror at an incident angle of 62°. With the information given, the user is asked to find the angle at which light leaves the final mirror. The solution can be found by using plane geometry and the Law of Reflection.

The problem is accompanied by a Socratic-dialog "help" sequence designed to encourage critical thinking as users do a guided conceptual analysis before attempting the mathematics. It is part of a larger collection of interactive problems developed by the Illinois Physics Education Research Group.

https://per.physics.illinois.edu/per/IE/ie.pl?phys102/ie/08/01

Subjects	Levels	Resource Types
Education Practices - Active Learning = Problem Solving Optics - Geometrical Optics = Reflection - Flat Surfaces	- High School - Lower Undergraduate	- Instructional Material = Activity = Best practice = Problem/Problem Set = Tutorial

Appropriate Courses	Categories	Ratings
- Conceptual Physics - Algebra-based Physics - AP Physics	- Activity - Assessment - New teachers	Currently 0.0/5 Want to rate this material? Login here!

Intended User:: Learner
Format:: text/html
Access Rights:: Free access
Restriction:: © 2002 University of Illinois Physics Education Research Group
Keywords:: Law of Reflection, geometric optics, incident angle, light, light, mirrors, reflected angle
Record Cloner:: Metadata instance created February 5, 2008 by Alea Smith
Record Updated:: August 3, 2016 by Lyle Barbato
Last Update when Cataloged:: September 22, 2006

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This resource is part of a Physics Front Topical Unit.

Topic: Nature and Behavior of Light
Unit Title: Ray Optics -- Reflection and Refraction of Light

Interactive Homework Problem Grades 9-12
This web site offers exceptional interactive homework problems for beginning physics students. This one presents them with three mirrors, with light hitting the first mirror at an incident angle of 62 degrees. Given only a few angle measures, students must use geometry and the Law of Reflection to solve the problem. A Socratic-Dialog "help" sequence guides students through each step, from conceptual analysis through the actual mathematics.

Link to Unit:

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Record Link

<a href="https://www.compadre.org/precollege/items/detail.cfm?ID=6465">Gladding, Gary. Illinois PER Interactive Examples: Three Mirrors. Urbana: University of llinois Physics Education Research Group, September 22, 2006.</a>

AIP Format

G. Gladding, (University of llinois Physics Education Research Group, Urbana, 2002), WWW Document, (https://per.physics.illinois.edu/per/IE/ie.pl?phys102/ie/08/01).

AJP/PRST-PER

G. Gladding, Illinois PER Interactive Examples: Three Mirrors (University of llinois Physics Education Research Group, Urbana, 2002), <https://per.physics.illinois.edu/per/IE/ie.pl?phys102/ie/08/01>.

APA Format

Gladding, G. (2006, September 22). Illinois PER Interactive Examples: Three Mirrors. Retrieved September 17, 2024, from University of llinois Physics Education Research Group: https://per.physics.illinois.edu/per/IE/ie.pl?phys102/ie/08/01

Chicago Format

Gladding, Gary. Illinois PER Interactive Examples: Three Mirrors. Urbana: University of llinois Physics Education Research Group, September 22, 2006. https://per.physics.illinois.edu/per/IE/ie.pl?phys102/ie/08/01 (accessed 17 September 2024).

MLA Format

Gladding, Gary. Illinois PER Interactive Examples: Three Mirrors. Urbana: University of llinois Physics Education Research Group, 2002. 22 Sep. 2006. 17 Sep. 2024 <https://per.physics.illinois.edu/per/IE/ie.pl?phys102/ie/08/01>.

BibTeX Export Format

@misc{ Author = "Gary Gladding", Title = {Illinois PER Interactive Examples: Three Mirrors}, Publisher = {University of llinois Physics Education Research Group}, Volume = {2024}, Number = {17 September 2024}, Month = {September 22, 2006}, Year = {2002} }

Refer Export Format

%A Gary Gladding %T Illinois PER Interactive Examples: Three Mirrors %D September 22, 2006 %I University of llinois Physics Education Research Group %C Urbana %U https://per.physics.illinois.edu/per/IE/ie.pl?phys102/ie/08/01 %O text/html

EndNote Export Format

%0 Electronic Source %A Gladding, Gary %D September 22, 2006 %T Illinois PER Interactive Examples: Three Mirrors %I University of llinois Physics Education Research Group %V 2024 %N 17 September 2024 %8 September 22, 2006 %9 text/html %U https://per.physics.illinois.edu/per/IE/ie.pl?phys102/ie/08/01

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The AIP Style presented is based on information from the AIP Style Manual.

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