Here are two physical situations whose mathematical descriptions are related. Compare and contrast the two situations. [br][br]I. a beam of light is emitted from a light source, is reflected from a mirror and strikes a receiver.[br][br]- What is true about the actual path of the light? [br]- What physical quantities have a minimum value along the actual path?[br][[size=85][i]You can adjust the positions of the light source, receiver and mirror[/i].[/size]][br][br]II. Each end of a weightless string of fixed length is attached to a peg. A ring is free to move along the string.[br][br]- What is true about the equilibrium position of the ring?[br]- What physical quantities have a minimum value in the equilibrium position of the string? [br][[size=85][i]You can adjust the positions of the pegs and the length of the string[/i].[/size]][br][br][color=#ff0000][i][b]How are these two problems similar? How are they different?[/b][/i][/color]

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