How Do Mirrors Work? | COLOSSAL QUESTIONS

Summary

This episode of 'Colossal Questions' delves into the fascinating history and science of mirrors. From the earliest still water reflections to modern glass coatings, mirrors have evolved significantly. The script explains how light interacts with smooth surfaces to create reflections, and how the absorption of photons affects the reflective quality. It highlights the progression from obsidian to polished copper, and finally to the Venetian invention of tin-mercury coatings for clearer reflections. Today, mirrors are made with silver or aluminum coatings, offering near-perfect reflections.

Takeaways

• 🪞 Mirrors are as old as the first smooth surfaces that could reflect light, such as still water.
• 🌟 The reflection occurs because light rays bounce back at the same angle from a smooth surface.
• 🔄 A perfect mirror image is created when light is reflected without absorption by the surface.
• 📌 Rough surfaces scatter light, preventing the formation of a clear mirror image.
• 🏺 The earliest known mirrors are over 8000 years old, made from polished volcanic glass called obsidian.
• 🛠️ By 3000 BCE, mirrors made of polished copper were available to the wealthy in the Mediterranean.
• 🎨 Venetian craftsmen in the 1500s invented modern mirrors by coating glass with tin and mercury.
• 🔋 Today's mirrors are made with glass coated on one side with silver or aluminum for a near-perfect reflection.
• 🎢 The precision of factory manufacturing allows for mass production of mirrors with consistent quality.
• 🎢 Carnival fun-houses still require the artistry of mirror-making for their distorting mirrors.

Q & A

What is the fundamental principle behind mirrors reflecting images?

Mirrors work by reflecting light that hits a smooth surface at the same angle it arrives, allowing our eyes to perceive a mirror image.

Why do smooth surfaces reflect images back at us?

Smooth surfaces reflect images because they allow light rays to bounce back at the same angle, creating a mirror image.

How do rough surfaces differ from smooth surfaces in terms of light reflection?

Rough surfaces scatter light in various directions, preventing the formation of a clear mirror image.

What role does the absorption of photons play in the reflection process?

If a smooth surface absorbs photons instead of reflecting them, no image is formed because there is no light to bounce back.

What are the oldest known mirrors made of, and where were they found?

The oldest known mirrors are more than 8000 years old and were made of polished volcanic glass called obsidian, found in modern-day Turkey.

How were mirrors made in the Mediterranean around 3000 BCE?

Around 3000 BCE, mirrors in the Mediterranean were made of polished copper, available to the wealthy but prone to blurriness and requiring regular polishing.

What innovation in mirror-making occurred in the 1500s?

In the 1500s, Venetian craftsmen began coating clear glass with a thin layer of tin and mercury mixed together, creating near-perfect reflections that needed no polishing.

What materials are used to make modern mirrors?

Modern mirrors are made of manufactured glass coated with either silver or aluminum on one side.

How does factory precision affect the quality of mirror reflections today?

Factory precision allows almost every modern mirror to perfectly reflect the image back, making the production of mirrors more consistent and less of an art form.

In what context might mirror-making still be considered an art form?

Mirror-making can still be considered an art form when creating mirrors for carnival fun-houses, where unique and distorted reflections are desired.