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2 marksCritical Angle and Total Internal Reflection

CSEC Physics · May/June 2009 · Paper 2 · Question 3(a)(iv)

A traveler on a hot road sees a mirage, an image of a distant object directly below it, as shown in Figure 1. Three light rays are labeled A, B, and C.

The mirage is a virtual image. With reference to Rays B and C, explain how the mirage is formed and why it is described as a virtual image.

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Other parts of this question

  1. 3(a)(i)Why does Ray A travel in a straight line from the object to the observer?[1 mark]
  2. 3(a)(ii)What is the name given to the bending of Ray B as it approaches the hot surface?[1 mark]
  3. 3(a)(iii)With reference to the normal, the temperature and the density of the air, explain the direction of the bending of Ray B at Point x.[2 marks]
  4. 3(b)(i)a)In terms of the distances a and d, write an expression for the distance travelled by the sound pulse after reflection from the front of the skull to the sound…[1 mark]
  5. 3(b)(i)b)In terms of the distances a and d, write an expression for the distance travelled by the sound pulse after reflection from the back of the skull to the sound…[1 mark]
  6. 3(b)(ii)a)Determine the difference in distance travelled between the first and the second echo[2 marks]
  7. 3(b)(ii)b)Determine the diameter, d, of the baby's skull.[1 mark]
  8. 3(c)(i)The object O is 100 m from the centre of the eye lens and the magnification of the eye lens is 0.005. Determine the distance of the retina from the centre of…[3 marks]
  9. 3(c)(ii)Write a formula for calculating the magnification of the eye lens using the object height and the image height[1 mark]

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