Two parallel mirrors are a distance d apart.An object is placed 1.0 inch in front of the right-hand mirror.After 5 reflections,with the first reflection from the right-hand mirror,an image is located 17 inches behind the right-hand mirror.Calculate the distance between the mirrors.
A)5.3 in
B)3.2 in
C)6.0 in
D)4.0 in
E)3.6 in

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The distance between the mirrors is 4.0 inches. Each reflection adds 2d to the total distance traveled by the image. After 5 reflections, the total distance is 1 + 5(2d) = 17 inches. Solving for d gives d = 4.0 inches.

Two Parallel Mirrors Are a Distance D Apart