202305241325 Problem 16.2.7

A person 6\,\mathrm{ft} tall stands 4\,\mathrm{ft} in front of a plane mirror.

(a) Where is his image?
(b) How tall is his image?
(c) What is the shortest mirror in which this person can see his whole image?
(d) Does the answer to (c) depend upon how far the person is from the mirror?

Extracted from C. E. Bennett. (1973). Physics Problems and How to Solve Them.


Roughwork.

(a), (b)

His image is 6\,\mathrm{ft} tall and 4\,\mathrm{ft} behind the plane mirror.

(c), (d)

Visualise the scene:

assuming the eye level is 5\,\mathrm{in} below the top of the head, and by conversion from feet to inches: 1\,\mathrm{ft}=12\,\mathrm{in}.


This problem is not to be attempted.