Two vertical parallel mirrors A and B are separated by 10 cm. A point object O is placed at a distance of 2 cm from mirror A. The distance of the second nearest image behind mirror A from the mirror A is ____ cm
Answer: 18
Solution
Place mirror A at the origin and mirror B 10 cm away; the object O is 2 cm from A and therefore 8 cm from B. The nearest image behind A is the direct reflection of O in A, formed 2 cm behind A. The next image behind A is produced when O is first reflected in B and that image is then reflected in A: reflection in B gives an image 8 cm behind B, which lies 10+8=18 cm from A, and its reflection in A is formed the same distance, 18 cm, behind A. Hence the second nearest image behind mirror A is 18 cm from the mirror.