Multiple Images
Question:
Can you make 10 copies of Tang
Xiao-shan out of one?
Instructions:
1. Adjust
the angle between the mirrors slowly, and observe carefully
the number of images of Tang Xiao-shan.
2.
Note the protractor reading when 4, 6 or 10 Tang Xiao-shan
appear in the mirrors.
3.
Can you find the mathematical relationship between the
number of images formed and the angle between the mirrors.
Why?
Two mirrors inclined at more
than 90 degrees with each other can only produce 2 images
at most. On the other hand, when the angle is 90, 72,
60, 45, 40 and 36 degrees, the number of images formed
(plus the object) are 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10 respectively.
Actually, you can arrive at these figures by simply dividing
360 degrees by the angle between the mirrors.
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