Two plane mirrors are inclined to each other at angle θ. A ray of light is reflected first at one mirror and then at the other. Find the total deviation of the ray
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
A ray AB is incident on mirror $OM_1$ at angle $α$ and is reflected along BC suffering a deviation
$δ_1 = ∠FBC$
The ray BC falls on mirror $OM_2$ at an angle of incidence $β$ and is reflected along CD suffering another deviation
$δ_2 = ∠GCD$
The total deviation is $δ= δ_1 + δ_2$
It is clear from the diagram that
$δ_1 = 180° - 2α$ and $δ_2 = 180° - 2β$
$∴ δ = δ_1 + δ_2 = 360° –2(α + β)$
Now, in triangle OBC, $∠OBC + ∠BCO + ∠BOC = 180°$
or $(90° – α) + (90° – β) + θ = 180°$
or $α + β = θ$
Hence $δ = 360° – 2θ$
Which is independent of the angle of incidence $α$ at the first mirror.