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The Deforming Mirrors


If a person look in a concave mirror placed perpendicularly to

another, (that is, supposing one mirror to be laid on the floor, and

the other attached to the ceiling,) his face will appear entirely

deformed. If the mirror be a little inclined, so as to make an angle

of 80 degrees, (that is, one-ninth part from the perpendicular,) he

will then see all the parts of his face, except the nose and forehead.

If it be inclined to 60 degrees; (that is, one-third part,) he will

appear with three noses and six eyes: in short, the apparent deformity

will vary at each degree of inclination, and when the glass comes to

45 degrees, (that is, half-way down,) the face will vanish. If,

instead of placing the two mirrors in this situation, they are so

disposed that their junction may be vertical, then different

inclinations will produce other effects, as the situation of the

object relative is quite different.



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