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1. In 214 BC, Archimedes invented a large spherical-type mirror used to focus the sun’s intense rays onto far away enemy boats, which would
Question
1. In 214 BC, Archimedes invented a large spherical-type mirror used to focus the sun’s intense rays onto far away enemy boats, which would eventually light them on fire. If the boats were travelling in a nearby channel approximately 1,000 m from the river bank, what would the radius of curvature of his mirror need to be? Show your work.
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Physics
5 years
2021-08-31T16:03:00+00:00
2021-08-31T16:03:00+00:00 1 Answers
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Answer:
2000 m
Explanation:
since the boat is 1000 m from the river bank, the beam must be focused at this point. This indicates that the focal length is 1000 m
for a spherical mirror, the focal length is given by
f = R/2
where R is the radius of curvature
1000 = R/2
R = 2000 m
R = 2000 m
this means that the radius of curvature must be 2000 m