Kamikaze_Badger Posted July 5, 2005 Posted July 5, 2005 I have a challange for anybody who's good with physics... If a single photon is projected flat out at a half-silvered (exactly 50% reflective) mirror, will it be deflected or go through? We're presuming the photon and the surface are entirely flat, and the collision of the photon into the mirror will be dead straight, so it would be like a right angle... description: | <-- photon | | |______ <--- mirror So, start putting your brains to work. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
henbenley Posted July 5, 2005 Posted July 5, 2005 Yes, because I say so. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
OptikaliLLusion Posted July 5, 2005 Posted July 5, 2005 It'll go through because of the something property. YEY IM QUOTED Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
caffeinejunkie Posted July 5, 2005 Posted July 5, 2005 If owning the macgyver dvd set has taught me anything is that photon will be bouncing right back it's int he pilot for christ sake im sure im wrong but macgyver is awesome Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
martymcfly Posted July 5, 2005 Posted July 5, 2005 It has a 50% chance of either, hence "half-reflective". But, depending on your personal views, it has more chance one way. If you believe a photon has mass: more chance it will reflect. Because if it has mass, presumably quantum tunneling theory applies. So it can possibly go through any surface, but it will usually bounce back. If you believe it has no mass: equal chances of each way Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kamikaze_Badger Posted July 5, 2005 Posted July 5, 2005 I personally believe it has mass (otherwise black holes wouldn't affect it). But, according to this, we're all wrong... dang. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
OptikaliLLusion Posted July 5, 2005 Posted July 5, 2005 fission mailed Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
martymcfly Posted July 5, 2005 Posted July 5, 2005 I love quantum mechanics. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kamikaze_Badger Posted July 5, 2005 Posted July 5, 2005 I would love it, if I understood it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
red930 Posted July 5, 2005 Posted July 5, 2005 it would probably bounce back, but that would greatly depend on the temperature of the substance. the average kinetic energy at room temp would be enough to make the photon move back, but take it to extreme temps and the gap between the atoms and the electron shells would be enough to let it go through allthough this would be very hard to proove because if the surface reached a temp that would allow photons to pass it would be emmiting photons from the electrons dropping to a lower energy level. if that makes much sence to you Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kamikaze_Badger Posted July 5, 2005 Posted July 5, 2005 What's sad is that I actually understood what soundman said. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
xPETEZx Posted July 5, 2005 Posted July 5, 2005 What's sad is that I actually understood what soundman said. 503594[/snapback] Yea, it is... I understood it too tho Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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