Cool experiment

[rick2580]

I doubt if I am the first to do this, but it is really cool:

If you take a mirror, write something on the mirror backwards and then put the mirror about 3 feet from the ceiling, facing the ceiling, then turn it upsidedown to you, then shine your laser pointer at the ceiling above the mirror, the words on the mirror will appear on the ceiling. It works with anything reflective (CD's).

If this is a well known thing, sorry to waste your time. I just came accross it accidentally, and it's really cool.

I tried it with a 150mW greenie, so I don't know if it works with any other colors.

 

[nikokapo]

You can learn more about this if you search for Geometrical Optics, it'll explain why that happens. Keep in mind that you may not always get a real straight image, it depends on where the object is respect to the focus of a mirror (concave or convex).

EDIT: Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geometrical_optics

 

[rpaloalto]

Thats neat, I Just tried it.
Almost as neat as the peanut butter and 405nm stunt.
Thanks rick2580

 

[rick2580]

What is the peanut butter experiment? I'm intrigued

 

[rpaloalto]

Peanut butter actually has a slight fluorescence to it.
if you hit it with 405nm blu-ray it will glow for a split second.

http://laserpointerforums.com/f38/list-all-known-uv-fluorescent-material-43167.html