Nobody knows... except for...
the void

Well, logically, all you'd see is you from every angle imaginable (mindfuck?) but the question is what you'd see if there were nothing in there, and I mean nothing. You see, if anything enters a mirror box, and I do mean anything, all that it could see would be itself from every angle, because of the refractive nature of light. Of course, the light would, invariably, run out, so it would be a little mindfucky in that aspect. However, if there were nothing (and any cracks invalidate this), all one could see would be the mirrors, and since mirrors have no image of their own, the question is what you would see. Of course, this is like the "If a tree falls in the forest, and nothing is there to hear it, does it make a sound?" thing: paradoxical and provocative. It's good for widening your thought, that's all. Of course, should any /x/philes MAKE a mirror box, that /x/phile should tell the rest of us so we can all check it out IRL...

>>451102


i really want to

heres a mindfuck: since mirrors reflect light and have no interior, why does it darken down the tunnel effect you get by lining up mirrors?

photons thin out when traveling actual distances, and a mirror is just one image, the reflection of the area in front of it

explain that /x/

>>451102
To be able to see anything at all, there has to be a light source.

If the light source is the only thing present, then obviously what the mirrors will reflect is that light source times infinity.

>>451119since mirrors reflect light and have no interior, why does it darken down the tunnel effect you get by lining up mirrors?
Mirrors don't reflect with 100% efficiency, duh.

if theres no light, you would see nothing.
unless you want to believe that this is a natural gateway to paranomia. i dont think that it would be this easy, however.

if theres any light source, you would see that reflection, if not, you would see the other mirrors in the mirrors reflection.

mirrors (glass, the metallic backing) dont reflect 100%, and you would be able to make them out by the angles where the mirrors join

I'm pretty sure you wouldn't see anything inside a sealed mirrorbox, just complete blackness. If for some reason there was a source of light then all you would see is that light.

>>451125
i wonder if it's possible to make one that could.

>>451129

When you manage to break physics, let me know.

No, John. You are the light source.

>>451137
do explain

>>451138
And then John was a light source?

I always wondered, if you had a completely sealed with the interior being all mirrors, then you turned on a flashlight within the box, would the box be illuminated forever?

>>451129
Of course it isn't. It has to do with the law of conservation of energy.

OP here

i got another one for yah

what if you put one of those camera traps like from monsterquest that they use to catch movement?

what if you put one in a mirror box, and the next day you checked

how many bri/x/ would be shat if there was even one picture captured?

this is for those people who believe in parallel dimensions and such

Essentially, seeing infinity would break a person.

The idea is tackled in one of the Hitchiker's Guide books.

>>451206
If the mirrors were 100% reflective, sure. But no mirror is, and photons are lost each time the beam bounces.

If the mirrors were 100% however, and you could close the box before the beam bounced back, and the box was vacuum inside, you would have a box of photons. You wouldn't even be able to see into the box, because the act of sight uses the photons that hit your retina, and would defeat the purpose of all that work.

Pic sort of related, in a tangential sense.

couldn't close box b4 light beam escapes, its an impossibility. Fuck you all.

>>451248
Okay, well, what if you made a box out of one-way mirror, and the reflective side was 100% efficient?

Light could shine into it, but light couldn't shine out, giving the appearance of a dark ball. If you left it out in the sun, it could store all the sunlight shining into it, and if it ever broke, it would burn everythi--Hold it.

New SCP item, coming up.

>>451257couldn't close box b4 light beam escapes, its an impossibility. Fuck you all.
Sure you could, if the opening was smaller than the depth of the box. Use your head for cripes sake, light doesn't travel instantaneously. That's why there's a speed of light.

>>451259
Fukkin lol

Seriously though, I too was pondering this.
What if you made it out of those two way mirrors or whatever (you can see in, but seeing out is a mirror). Then, put it outside. Then, you wouldn't need a light source amirite?

Plus, all your friends could watch your speedy decent into spiraling madness.

Okay, here's my first serious crack at one of these (my first one was a joke one).

Item#: SCP-077

Special Containment Procedures: Item is kept on a periodically rotating motorized pedestal at all times. If SCP-077 is to be experimented upon, personnel may use the computer terminal below the pedestal to manually rotate SCP-077. Personnel are NOT permitted to remove SCP-077 from its pedestal without level-4 or higher clearance. If SCP-077 is to be transferred to another facility, it must be carried in the container labelled KARTOFFELBREI in the alcove in SCP-077 containment room entryway. Three times daily, level-2 personnel must enter SCP-077's room to ensure that the pedestal is rotating SCP-077 properly. If SCP-077 is not granted full 360 degree rotation along all three axes, contact a level-3 or higher supervisor.

Description: Recovered in a ruined laboratory in Russland, 1983. Moved to Area 28 on 3 June 1983. SCP-077 is a black sphere roughly 9cm in diameter, with a hairline slit bisecting the sphere for a distance of about 30 degrees. Microscopic inspection suggests that the slit was deliberatly cut using a fine saw. SCP-077 is made of a glassy substance resembling a one-way mirror with remarkable efficiency. All light shined onto the sphere is absorbed and seems to be reflected by the mirrored interior lining indefinitely, until it is rotated to the point that light can exit the slit. Attempts to guage the reflective index of the mirror have proved inconclusive. Tests performed with lasers have shown no measurable loss of brightness in any electrognetic frequency given several days. Composition is unknown, no one has attempted to chip a sample for fear of shattering.

Additional notes: SCP-077 is a moderate-risk potentially lethal object. The civilian who discovered SCP-077 was cut in half by the discharge of sunlight as soon as he picked it up. His death is on record as having been caused by radioactive fallout.

>>451324

Another idea to play on. The mass of the box / ball raises whenever there is more light added, albeit slowly. It follows either directly from E=mc^2 or from direct calculation with impulses of photons, but result is the same.

>>451324

Wouldn't the extreme amount of heat energy build up in the ball ionize the air inside and cause the entire thing to melt down? It seems like it would have to be made out of some seriously exotic material to maintain perfect reflectivity and structural soundness under the temperatures it could theoretically reach. That said, I don't think anyone would want to touch the thing, much less pick it up.

>>451348
I don't think the inside could get too hot, because the slit is there for hot air to escape.

>>451351

...

Did you not just listen to what he said?

>>451367
No I didn't -listen- lol, because you can't -listen- to something written.

Anyway, he said something about heat, right? Like, hot air? Well, what does hot air do?

It EXPANDS. Obviously the air inside the ball can't get too hot, because any warm air inside is constantly pushing itself out. And remember, it's kept in a dark room. It's not like light is constantly shining on it.

>>451381
well fuck, arent you a genius
yes there is hot air, but remember something call heat rays? you know
shit we get tanned from and what we use to burn ants?
the heat rays would constantally bounce off the mirrors and build up heat as it bounced, which would make it sooo hot that it would melt

>>451386
"Heat rays"? What you're talking about is ultraviolet light. Yes, UV rays shining on stuff can generate intense heat, but where does UV come from? The sun, and special UV lights. None of which would be present in the SCP-077 room under normal conditions. Plus, the thing has a reflective index of 100% or close to it. Stuff actually has to ABSORB the UV for it to be able to generate heat.

Man, I came up with this thing when I was in 3rd grade. I've wanted it for ever.

>>451386

Radiating heat reflects off mirrors.

>>451391

You are forgetting that in such a thing light rays would be constantly smashing into each other at the atomic level, like bouncy balls in a clothes dryer. While this might not generate a lot of heat, it would generate some. Under mostly dark conditions it wouldn't be a problem. However, in direct sunlight, the density of the light inside would increase rapidly along with its energy and thermal emission, due to the rate of light absorption being much greater than the rate of light emission. It would surely either melt or explode in short order, depending on the strength of its material.

I CHOOSE YOU, SOLAR BOMB!!!

>>451400
That's a good point, however heat is not a form of radiation. Heat is molecular vibrations. A mirror can't reflect heat.

>>451401light rays would be constantly smashing into each other
...

I don't think light works that way.

>>451401

>light rays would be constantly smashing into each other

Photons don't interact with each other lol.

If you're making a mirror box for the purpose of trapping photons inside bouncing forever, you don't need mirrors. You just need white surfaces.

Mirrors are White. The only difference between a mirror and a white surface is that a white surface is rough and jagged and reflects light in random scattered directions, while a mirror is smooth and reflects light in a uniform direction.

If you have a box that's completely painted white inside, it would serve the same function as a box with mirrored surfaces. The light would just bounce around from surface to surface forever.

Though written about in fiction occasionally, the mirrored box is quite an old invention. Currently it is an often simulated in computer graphics; however rarely do people try to reconstruct one for a real person under appropriate conditions. The event can be enlightening or traumatizing for the witness who bears its burden.
The procedure is actually simple, though finding and preparing the materials required might take months:
-6 square metal sheets, slightly taller than the witness. The length should never exceed the height of a witness with raised hands. One of them should be larger than the rest by at least the thickness of the sheets themselves. The material should preferably be made of graphite or lead alloy for the most prominent effect (it's unknown why).
-Five nearly perfect aligned mirrors sealed upon the metal plates. Each of the 5 will form the sides and bottom of the inner box. One larger mirror should be attatched to the large metal plate, which will be used for the top.
-A simple lightsource, of pure white or bright yellow. The lightsource should emit in almost all directions (a 90 degree cone may be left for the bottom). Candles can be used, but a few early witnesses died from carbon dioxide and monoxide poisoning. The light source should not be planted upon the mirrors or receive any outside energy. Construction techniques are left up to the witness. It is highly suggested the sides be epoxied with strong L brackets. Though intuition might lead one to believe loose sides to be more "safe", past constructions with collapsable sides have lead to horrific accidents.

-Two or three alarm clocks. It may be digital or mechanical. However, digital clocks should not emit radio waves (some radio noise is OK, but only from natural resistance) and should be battery powered. It's highly suggested the witness bring both mechanical and digital, for redundancy (which will be needed). An extra alarm clock of any kind is also needed. Watches are OK, but not suggested due to the small type face and hands.
- Wear simple clothing. Do not wear anything which does not "breathe" (i.e. NOT leather, plastic, etc.), or contain strong seams. If the witness' light source is a candle, it is highly suggested that clothing is not taken inside.
-Do not bring any other objects. Witnesses have often crowded the box. Such boxes either become highly useless or highly dangerous. This includes jewelery, food, weapons, or religious materials such as beads and crucifixes, etc.
-An assistant is required to help the witness in and out of the box and get help in case of emergencies. The assistant should be trusting and as strong willed as the witness.
-Two 6' (or 2m) ladders
-Several Blankets, water, aspirin, and a first aid kit.

Once the necessary items have been aquired. Prepare the alarm clocks to ring around 10 minutes after the witness' planned entrance. Depending on the material used for the box itself, the time of day will not matter, but a night during a new moon is suggested. Despite intuition, sound does not play a large role in the event. Remove ALL electronics (except the clock or lightsource) before entering. The removal is especially important for radios or cellphones. The witness should use a small unattached ladder to enter the box. The top should already be placed upon the box at a diagonal angle, with a hole large enough for the witness to enter.

Once inside, the witness should be handed the light source and the clocks (one should be kept with the assistant). The outside assistant should ask sincerely whether the witness is OK. Once confirmation is given, the top should be moved to seal the box. The witness may turn on the lightsource once the box is sealed. At any point should the witness ask to leave the box (if soundproof, tapping should be used), ONLY the top should be opened. The witness may do it themselves, since the top of the box should be easily reachable. Again, collapsable sides are not suggested. Once ten minutes are up, ALWAYS remove the top, regardless of what the witness says. Some witnesses may plead to stay inside the box, even suggesting great danger should it be opened. The assistant should never trust those pleas. Suffocation is only one of many concerns should the witness stay too long in the box. Once the top has been slid opened, place the second ladder in the box to allow the witness to leave. Allow the witness to use the blankets, water and aspirin as needed. If the witness is feeling weak and cannot exit the box safely on the ladders, cover two adjacent sides of the inner box wall with the blankets, and allow the witness to use the extra blankets, water and aspirin as needed. If the witness has any serious wounds, or discoloration, call for medical help.

Good luck. Should you happen to meet a true witness, never trust what they say about their experience, and never ask them for the time or where the antumbra meets

>>451712
>>451713
>>451714
>>451716
>>451718
YAY CREEPYPASTA

/x/ just discovered laser beams.

>>451434
Whoah, retard alert. Heat is transmitted soley by infrared RADIATION, for one thing, which is a low-band form of EM radiation, just like all light. A 100% efficient mirror would obviously reflect heat.

Also, if you had a slit in the mirror ball, it's blatantly obvious that the light would ricochet around the interior until it left via the slit, whatever the angle it entered in. You couldn't build up light within it at all.

>>451755
>Heat is transmitted soley by infrared RADIATION

Um, no. Heat is mainly transferred by hot things coming in contact with cold things. Heat is not radiation.

Welcome to /x/, a place where people don't get how mirrors work.

OK, first off,>>451259
>>Okay, well, what if you made a box out of one-way mirror, and the reflective side was 100% efficient?
It's impossible to build such a device because of the structure of matter. There is no one-way light conductor, sorry to burst your bubble.

>>451764
You know, there are those things called encyclopedias, maybe you'd like to check one of them out next time, before you decide that you want to look like an idiot.

>>451825

>>There is no one-way light conductor

Black hole and meta materials

>>451825

this could work if you made the mirror out of diamond, the hardest metal known to man

>>451829
Since when either of those *conduct* light?

>>451102
Mirrors absorb a little light every time light hits them. Eventually all the light would be absorbed, and it would be all black,

>>451838

since forever

>>451844

You can't look through a black hole idiot

>>>>There is no one-way light conductor

ITT meaningless statements

>>451825
>Welcome to /x/, a place where people don't get how mirrors work.

LOLZORDZ

>>451847

how do u kno

>>451859

Because is a solid mass that absorbs everything including light. How is light going to pass through it when it gets absorbed by it?

>>451850
Meaningless as in? Would your pedantic ego be happier if I said "there is no transparent substance that is reflective at the same time"?

>>451867

my pedantic ego would be happier if you read this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirror#Two-way_mirrors

>>451865

becaz u tk him 2 da bar