Question about the reflection property of light

[rednewguy]

Property of Light

I encountered this image in a Science book for school kids. I wonder whether the property of light illustrated in image is correct or not...
How could a mirror reflect a shadow???



-RNG

 

[flatulent]

Re: Property of Light

What principles are being illustrated? The picket fence on the left casts shadows. The vertical object on the right blocks the light and the woven screen on the left passes the light. The size of the obstructions are much larger than a wavelength of light so there are no diffraction effects.

 

[rednewguy]

Re: Property of Light

It was given under 'Reflection of Light'.

There is a torch (source of light) in left extreme.
A comb lies on its back. Its shadow (striped black lines) is casted behind.
Next comes a mirror in the path of shadow. It is shown as such the mirror reflects the remaining part of shadow so that the reflected shadow forms a criss-cross pattern.

Is there any possibility that this kind of behaviour can be observed practically?

In alternate thinking, what if the mirror is trying to reflect the light but not shadow? Even then it should negate the earlier formed shadow or just cause to form a shadow on the other side of comb (towards torch).

-RNG

 

[iyami]

Re: Property of Light

The mirror doe not reflect the shadow. It reflects the light and also the
interference patterns which is caused by lightwaves cancelling or enhancing
each other depending on their phases. (if you throw two stones into a lake
you can see the same patterns if there is a straight stone wall e.g a wharf)