Originally Posted By: paul


the flashlight requires energy
the mirror does not require energy.

so if we measure the energy of the light before it enters
the mirror we find it has a distinct magnitude of energy.

and when we measure the energy of light after it leaves
the mirror we find is has a distinct magnitude of energy.

and we find that the light has lost some tiny amount of energy.

but that loss of energy was because the light slowed as it
passed through the glass of the mirror.

we measure a distinct difference in the energy before and after.

and we find that energy was absorbed by the mirror but no energy was
exchanged , transferred , flip flopped , or whatever back to the flashlight.

this conflicts with what I replied about earlier.

Quote:
If you can measure it and it changes from one time to the next time then energy was exchanged.


this is a clear example of a one way event.

flashlight ---> mirror

the flashlight transferred light to the mirror.
the mirror then charged a slight toll to the light for passage.

but there is no trade agreement between the flashlight and the mirror
so the mirror does not pay the flashlight any percentage of the toll it charged and collected.



There is no exchange between the flashlight and mirror in this scenario. Battery to bulb, bulb makes heat and light.

Light hits mirror, most bounces off, some is absorbed and converted to heat.

The mirror does need energy. Without light, a mirror is fairly useless. In regards to it reflecting light, it does not do so with 100% efficiency. Even small amounts of energy count as an exchange.

The light, flash light, mirror, battery, air, everything can be seen as it's own entity of particles.

To achieve a direct correlation between the mirror and flashlight, you would have to look at all the dozens of other exchanges that happen simultaneously. The correlation may not be immediately apparent, but it IS there.

Even reflecting energy (from any medium) results in an exchange. Nothing is 100%.

Last edited by Neohippy; 01/17/13 10:47 PM.
Laziness breeds innovation