Corner cube reflectors
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Corner cube reflectors (CCRs) display the interesting behaviour that a reflected beam of light is always parallel to the incident beam. A beam of light incident at any point, at any angle, on a CCR will exit along a path parallel to the incident beam. Three methods of demonstrating the operation of a CCR are described. In one demonstration, a bicycle CCR is fixed to a classroom wall. When students shine their phone lights at the reflector they can see the reflection wherever they are sitting. In a second demonstration, a mirror and a bicycle CCR are immersed in tonic water and a violet laser (wavelength 405 nm) shone alternately onto the mirror and CCR. The laser induces fluorescence in the tonic water. When the laser is directed onto the mirror, the incident and reflected beams are seen. However, when the laser is directed onto the bicycle CCR, only a single beam is seen due to retroreflection. In a third demonstration, a large-scale CCR constructed from plastic mirror squares is immersed in tonic water. In this case, the path of the multiply-reflected beam is visible in the tonic water.
Source: Physics Education
Authors: Stephen Hughes, Margaret Wegener
Institution: The University of Queensland
Subfield: Statistical and Nonlinear Physics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,325
OpenAlex ID: W7128233172