Reflections and Mirrors Quiz

A ray of light strikes a plane mirror at an angle of 45° with the mirror surface. What will be the angle of reflection?

• 45°

• 90°

• 135°

• 180°

Answer explanation

According to the law of reflection, the angle of reflection equals the angle of incidence. Since the ray strikes the mirror at 45°, the angle of reflection is also 45°.

Two plane mirrors are placed at an angle of 60° to each other. How many images of an object placed between them will be formed?

• 2

• 3

• 5

• 6

Answer explanation

When two mirrors are at an angle θ, the number of images formed is given by the formula: n = (360°/θ) - 1. For θ = 60°, n = (360°/60°) - 1 = 6 - 1 = 5. Thus, 5 images are formed.

A person writes the word "SCIENCE" on a piece of paper and holds it in front of a plane mirror. What will the mirror image of the word look like?

• ƎƆИƎIƆƧ

• ƧƆIƎИƆƎ

• ƧƆƎIИƧƎ

• ƎƧИƎIƆƧ

Answer explanation

The mirror image reverses the letters horizontally. The correct transformation of 'SCIENCE' results in 'ƎƆИƎIƆƧ', matching the first answer choice.

A light ray strikes a plane mirror, and the reflected ray is perpendicular to the incident ray. What's the angle of incidence?

• 45°

• 90°

• 0°

• 30°

Answer explanation

When a light ray strikes a plane mirror, the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection. If the reflected ray is perpendicular to the incident ray, the angle of incidence must be 45°, making the correct choice 45°.

You shine a laser at a plane mirror, and the reflected ray hits a wall 2 meters away at a 60° angle to the wall. What's the angle of incidence?

• 60°

• 30°

• 45°

• 90°

Answer explanation

The angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection. Since the reflected ray hits the wall at 60°, the angle between the reflected ray and the normal to the wall is 30°. Thus, the angle of incidence is 30°.

Standing 1 meter from a plane mirror, you see your image. If you walk 50 cm toward the mirror, how much closer does your image get to you?

• 50 cm

• 100 cm

• 25 cm

• 0 cm

Answer explanation

When you walk 50 cm toward the mirror, your distance to the mirror decreases from 1 meter to 0.5 meters. Your image, which is 1 meter behind the mirror, moves from 1 meter to 1.5 meters away from you, making it 100 cm closer.

You shine a light ray at a plane mirror, and it reflects back exactly along its original path. What was the angle of incidence?

• 0°

• 45°

• 90°

• 30°

Answer explanation

The angle of incidence is the angle between the incoming ray and the normal. If the ray reflects back along its original path, the angle of incidence must be 0°, meaning the ray strikes the mirror perpendicularly.

Three plane mirrors form an equilateral triangle enclosure. A light ray enters through a small gap and reflects off all three mirrors. What's the minimum number of reflections before it might exit?

• 1

• 3

• 5

• Infinite

Answer explanation

The light ray will reflect off each of the three mirrors in the triangle. It can exit after reflecting off all three mirrors, resulting in a minimum of 3 reflections before it might exit.

You see your reflection in a plane mirror and notice your right hand appears as the image's left hand. If you wink your left eye, which eye does the image wink?

• Left eye

• Right eye

• Both eyes

• Neither eye

Answer explanation

In a mirror, left and right are reversed. If you wink your left eye, the image will appear to wink its right eye, as it mirrors your actions. Therefore, the image winks its right eye.

Two plane mirrors are placed parallel to each other, 10 cm apart, facing each other. You shine a light ray between them at a 30° angle to the first mirror. How many reflections occur before the ray exits?

• 1

• 2

• Infinite

• 3

Answer explanation

The light ray will reflect infinitely between the two parallel mirrors. Each reflection occurs at the same angle, allowing the ray to continue bouncing back and forth without exiting, resulting in infinite reflections.