To find the size of the image of the second car as seen in the convex mirror of the first car, we can use the mirror formula and the magnification formula. Let's break this down step by step.
Understanding the Mirror Formula
The mirror formula for a convex mirror is given by:
1/f = 1/v + 1/u
Where:
- f is the focal length of the mirror (positive for convex mirrors).
- v is the image distance (positive for virtual images in convex mirrors).
- u is the object distance (negative as per the sign convention).
Given Data
From the problem, we know:
- Focal length, f = +20 cm
- Distance between the two cars, d = 4 m = 400 cm
- Height of the second car, h = 1.05 m = 105 cm
Calculating Object Distance
The object distance u for the second car, as seen from the first car's mirror, is:
u = -d = -400 cm
Finding Image Distance
Now, we can substitute the values into the mirror formula:
1/f = 1/v + 1/u
Substituting the known values:
1/20 = 1/v + 1/(-400)
This simplifies to:
1/20 = 1/v - 1/400
To solve for 1/v, we can rearrange the equation:
1/v = 1/20 + 1/400
Finding a common denominator (which is 400):
1/v = 20/400 + 1/400 = 21/400
Thus, we find:
v = 400/21 ≈ 19.05 cm
Calculating Magnification
The magnification m of the image is given by:
m = -v/u
Substituting the values we have:
m = - (400/21) / (-400) = 1/21
Finding the Size of the Image
Now, we can find the height of the image h' using the magnification formula:
h' = m × h
Substituting the values:
h' = (1/21) × 105 cm ≈ 5 cm
Final Result
The size of the image of the second car as seen in the mirror of the first car is approximately 5 cm. This image will be virtual, upright, and smaller than the actual height of the second car due to the nature of the convex mirror.