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Subject:
do mirrors reflect all frequencies of light or just the visible spectrum?
Category: Science > Physics Asked by: gubernacullum-ga List Price: $2.00 |
Posted:
23 Jan 2006 20:18 PST
Expires: 22 Feb 2006 20:18 PST Question ID: 437036 |
do mirrors reflect all frequencies of light or just the visible spectrum? |
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There is no answer at this time. |
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Subject:
Re: do mirrors reflect all frequencies of light or just the visible spectrum?
From: markvmd-ga on 23 Jan 2006 21:18 PST |
Light is, by definition, only what you can see. However, if you are asking what spectra mirrors can reflect, I expect a Researcher will come up with a very satisfactory answer. But let me give you a hint-- ever tented a turkey? |
Subject:
Re: do mirrors reflect all frequencies of light or just the visible spectrum?
From: kottekoe-ga on 24 Jan 2006 00:07 PST |
The simple answer is no and no. No mirror reflects all frequencies of light, but most mirrors work quite well at some nonvisible wavelengths. For example a thick, polished piece of metal works well at very low frequencies and at visible wavelengths, but stops working at very high frequencies. A dielectric interference mirror typically works over a very narrow range of wavelengths. Some mirrors, like those used for Xrays, may work only over a very restricted range of angles. It all depends. To comment on the earlier comment, the word light is often used to refer to other parts of the spectrum. For example, there is infrared and ultraviolet light. Commonly the term is used generically to refer to the entire spectrum of electromagnetic waves. |
Subject:
Re: do mirrors reflect all frequencies of light or just the visible spectrum?
From: gubernacullum-ga on 24 Jan 2006 01:08 PST |
i don't know what turkeys and tents have to do with anything but kottekoe provided a very reasonable answer and richly deserves the princely sum of 2 dollars. |
Subject:
Re: do mirrors reflect all frequencies of light or just the visible spectrum?
From: markvmd-ga on 24 Jan 2006 07:22 PST |
The first definition of light is: Electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength in the range from approximately 4,000 (violet) to about 7,700 (red) angstroms and that can be perceived by the unaided human eye. A lesser definition is EM radiation of any wavelength. Calling this secondary definition "common" borders on disingenuous. Because a definition enjoys prominence in a small community-- say, physicists-- does not give license to extrapolate that usage. As for turkey tenting; you tent a turkey with foil to reflect heat (infrared) back to the turkey. The actual mechanism is a little more complicated but that is part of the reason. It is interesting to note that the definitions for "mirror" includes references to reflecting light and forming images while the definition for "reflector" specifically makes mention of other spectra (light, heat, sound, radiation). So a mirror is a reflector, but a reflector isn't necessarily a mirror. For my next trick I shall prove that God exists, which will mean he doesn't (Adams, 1978). |
Subject:
Re: do mirrors reflect all frequencies of light or just the visible spectrum?
From: pafalafa-ga on 24 Jan 2006 07:35 PST |
Tch, tch Mark. You're getting touchy. I think "ultraviolet light" is a very common, well-known, and well-understood phrase, even though it refers to an invisible form of light. |
Subject:
Re: do mirrors reflect all frequencies of light or just the visible spectrum?
From: kottekoe-ga on 24 Jan 2006 18:15 PST |
If we are being picky, let me suggest we not confuse infrared radiation and heat. This confused the heck out of me as a child. |
Subject:
Re: do mirrors reflect all frequencies of light or just the visible spectrum?
From: treefish-ga on 29 Jan 2006 12:52 PST |
For the purpose of answering this question, I'll use the broadest definition of light, i.e. all electro-magnetic (EM) radiation. I'll also use the word mirror to mean "EM reflector". Kottekoe's answer is a good one. I could also add that there are reflectors (call them mirrors if you want) that are specifically designed to pass some wavelengths while reflecting others - these are known as dichroic filters (as opposed to absorptive filters). Examples are "hot" and "cold" mirrors. Hot mirrors reflect infrared (IR) while letting visible light pass right through. Cold mirrors do the opposite. Of course, mirrors don't have to be flat. You can find a parabolic cold mirror in a halogen spotlight - the IR goes out in every direction, while the visible light is focused into a beam. Some video projectors contain dichroic filters that reflect some visible wavelengths while reflecting others. These are used to add colour to display technologies which would otherwise be monochrome. A mirror can have holes in it and still work, provided that the holes are much smaller than the wavelength of the radiation to be reflected. The perforated metal gauze in a satellite dish or in the door of a microwave oven reflects microwaves (wavelength around 2cm) while letting at least some visible light through. Arguably, dichroics should really be called "filters", rather than "mirrors", but terms like hot and cold mirror still persist. |
Subject:
Re: do mirrors reflect all frequencies of light or just the visible spectrum?
From: docanddoc-ga on 08 Feb 2006 13:19 PST |
How about some real data. http://www.edmundoptics.com/TechSupport/DisplayArticle.cfm?articleid=259 Remember, aside from front surface mirror for scientific purposes, you need to account for the "glass" in front of the mirror. |
Subject:
Re: do mirrors reflect all frequencies of light or just the visible spectrum?
From: zkirsh-ga on 09 Feb 2006 14:57 PST |
i'd like to add that turkeys look funny in the mirror. |
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