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Corner reflectors, such as the reflective buttons on a bicycle, are built from two mutually perpendicular reflecting surfaces. What do they do to an incoming ray of light?
AThey send it back exactly parallel to the direction it came from
BThey absorb it completely, which is why the button looks dark
CThey scatter it randomly across a wide range of angles
DThey bend it through exactly forty-five degrees and let it continue on
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. They send it back exactly parallel to the direction it came from
1. A corner reflector is built from two mutually perpendicular reflecting surfaces.
2. A light ray striking such an object is reflected back exactly parallel to the direction it came from.
3. This holds true regardless of the incident angle, which is why bicycle reflectors work when approached from many directions.
4. Absorbing or randomly scattering the light would defeat the purpose of a device meant to send light straight back to its source.
_Source: OpenStax Physics (CC BY 4.0), Ch 16 "Mirrors and Lenses", section 16.2 Refraction_
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