2025 Sampler Automotive Optics Cluster-25

Base your answers to questions 1 through 5 on the information below and on your knowledge of physics.

Automotive Optics

A group of students investigated the various mirrors on a car. They performed investigations to determine how the shapes of these mirrors affected the reflection of light. The students used mirrors found in three different locations on a car, as shown in Diagram 1.

Diagram 1: A car showing the placement of mirrors, including passenger side mirror, rearview mirror, and headlight mirror.

The students discovered that a concave mirror is present in the headlight of the car, as shown in Diagram 2.

Diagram 2: A headlight showing a concave mirror and a bulb.

The students examined the functioning of the mirror and the bulb in Diagram 2 and created the model in Diagram 3. The focal point of the mirror is labeled $F$ and several light rays are shown.

1

Four claims were developed when evaluating the operation of the headlight in Diagram 3. Which claim correctly identifies the purpose of the bulb and the mirror?

Transform electrical energy to light energy; Redirect emitted light from the bulb to the front of the car

Transform electrical energy to light energy; Increase the amount of light the bulb produces

Transform mechanical energy to light energy; Redirect emitted light from the bulb to the front of the car

Transform mechanical energy to light energy; Increase the amount of light the bulb produces

HS-PS3-3

The students observed that the rearview mirror in Diagram 4 appears flat and functions as a plane mirror. To see an object, the mirror is angled so light is reflected into the driver’s eye.

Diagram of a rearview mirror.

1

The diagram below represents the location of an image seen in a rearview mirror. On the diagram, use a protractor and straightedge to construct the path of the incident light ray that produces the reflected ray shown and identify the location of the object with an X. [1]

HS-PS4-6

The group observed that the passenger side mirror contains the statement “OBJECTS IN MIRROR ARE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR,” as shown in Diagram 5.

View through a passenger side mirror showing the road and a car behind. The text on the mirror reads, 'Objects in mirror are closer than they appear.' Diagram 5: Passenger Side Mirror. This mirror produces an image that is upright and smaller than the object. The distance from the image to the mirror is less than the distance from the object to the mirror.

Based on their observations, the group determined that the mirror is convex. Diagram 6, below, represents the size, location, and orientation of an object and its image formed by the convex mirror in Diagram 5. The locations of the focal point, F, and the center of the curvature, C, are indicated on the principal axis.

Diagram of an image formed by an object in a convex mirror, showing the principal axis, object, image, focal point (F), and center of curvature (C).

1

The students claimed that the same object, when closer to the mirror, will form an image that is larger and closer to the mirror than the original image. On the diagram below, use a straightedge to: draw a ray diagram to support the group’s claims about the new image. Draw an arrow to identify the position, size, and orientation of the new image. [1]

HS-PS4-6

The students investigated the images formed by the convex mirror in Diagram 5. They measured the height of the image and calculated the image distance. Their results are shown in Table 1.

Trial	Object Height (cm)	Object Distance (cm)	Image Height (cm)	Image Distance (cm)
1	$16$	$240$	$2.5$
2	$16$	$160$	$3.5$	$-35$

1

Which row in the table below correctly shows the absolute value of the image distance and type of image for trial 1?

$15$ virtual

$15$ real

$38$ virtual

$38$ real

HS-PS4-6

On a different car, students noticed there was a small corner mirror inset in the passenger side mirror, as shown in Diagram 7. Manufacturers included the inset mirror to help reduce traffic accidents without changing the size of the mirror. The image of car A is circled in both mirrors. While there are benefits to including an inset mirror, there are also disadvantages.

Diagram 7: Passenger Side Mirror with Inset

An image of a passenger side mirror with an inset, labeled with main mirror, inset mirror, Car A, and Car B. A car's side mirror with the text 'Objects in mirror are closer than they appear' and a label for Car A.

1

Which statement best describes the trade-offs for including the inset mirror?

The image in the inset mirror is smaller and more difficult to see than in the main mirror, and car A appears further away in the inset mirror.

The image in the inset mirror is larger and easier to see than in the main mirror, and car A appears closer in the inset mirror.

The image in the inset mirror is smaller and more difficult to see than in the main mirror, and more cars can be seen in the inset mirror.

The image in the inset mirror is larger and easier to see than in the main mirror, and fewer cars can be seen in the inset mirror.

HS-ETS1-3

NYS Physics Regents Practice Cluster 2 (Car)

2025 Sampler Automotive Optics Cluster-25

Automotive Optics

NYS Physics Regents Practice Cluster 2 (Car)

2025 Sampler Automotive Optics Cluster-25

Automotive Optics

Four claims were developed when evaluating the operation of the headlight in Diagram 3. Which claim correctly identifies the purpose of the bulb and the mirror?

The diagram below represents the location of an image seen in a rearview mirror. On the diagram, use a protractor and straightedge to construct the path of the incident light ray that produces the reflected ray shown and identify the location of the object with an X. [1]

Which row in the table below correctly shows the absolute value of the image distance and type of image for trial 1?

Which statement best describes the trade-offs for including the inset mirror?

Four claims were developed when evaluating the operation of the headlight in Diagram 3. Which claim correctly identifies the purpose of the bulb and the mirror?

The diagram below represents the location of an image seen in a rearview mirror. On the diagram, use a protractor and straightedge to construct the path of the incident light ray that produces the reflected ray shown and identify the location of the object with an X. [1]

Which row in the table below correctly shows the absolute value of the image distance and type of image for trial 1?

Which statement best describes the trade-offs for including the inset mirror?