Physics

Problem

A vertical plane mirror coincides with the

y

–

z

plane of a three‐dimensional coordinate system. A light ray travels in the

x

–

y

plane toward the mirror and strikes it at the origin O. The incident ray makes an angle of

30^{\circ}

with the normal to the mirror (the normal points along the positive

x

‐axis). (a) Draw a labelled diagram showing the incident ray, the normal, and the reflected ray with respect to the coordinate axes. (b) Calculate the angle that the reflected ray makes with the

x

–

y

plane. (c) Is the reflected ray confined to the

x

–

y

plane or does it leave that plane? Support your answer with appropriate reasoning based on the laws of reflection.

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