Two points have polar coordinates as follows: θ=130°,r=.35 (point A) and θ=70°,r=.6 (point B). There is a surrounding circle, r=1, that acts as a mirror, and you wish to send a light ray from point A to point B by bouncing it once off the circle. What two alternative directions could you send it in (use an angular measure paralleling the θ coordinate it would have if directed from the origin)?

(In reply to re(3): The objective of the problem by SilverKnight)

SilverKnight's original solution included "this makes a reflection angle of 18.50560563 degrees, and 9.049321949 degrees respectively." What Antonio apparently wants is twice each of these, that is, the angle between the incident and reflected rays, rather than the angle between either and the normal to the mirror surface.

Posted by Charlie on 2003-11-24 14:21:34