Fermat's principle in optics Light from a source A is reflected by a plane mirror to a receiver at point B, as shown in the ac- companying figure. Show that for the light to obey Fermat's prin- ciple, the angle of incidence must equal the angle of reflection, both measured from the line normal to the reflecting surface. (This result can also be derived without calculus. There is a purely geo- metric argument, which you may prefer.) Normal Light receiver Light source Angle of reflection Angle of incidence 02 Plane mirror

Algebra & Trigonometry with Analytic Geometry
13th Edition
ISBN:9781133382119
Author:Swokowski
Publisher:Swokowski
Chapter11: Topics From Analytic Geometry
Section11.3: Hyperbolas
Problem 77E
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Fermat's principle in optics Light from a source A is reflected
by a plane mirror to a receiver at point B, as shown in the ac-
companying figure. Show that for the light to obey Fermat's prin-
ciple, the angle of incidence must equal the angle of reflection,
both measured from the line normal to the reflecting surface. (This
result can also be derived without calculus. There is a purely geo-
metric argument, which you may prefer.)
Normal
Light
receiver
Light
source
Angle of
reflection
Angle of
incidence
02
Plane mirror
Transcribed Image Text:Fermat's principle in optics Light from a source A is reflected by a plane mirror to a receiver at point B, as shown in the ac- companying figure. Show that for the light to obey Fermat's prin- ciple, the angle of incidence must equal the angle of reflection, both measured from the line normal to the reflecting surface. (This result can also be derived without calculus. There is a purely geo- metric argument, which you may prefer.) Normal Light receiver Light source Angle of reflection Angle of incidence 02 Plane mirror
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