Question

State the law of reflection.

Answer 1

Reflection can be defined as a phenomenon where a light ray bounces back to the same medium after hitting a smooth and polished surface. For example; Mirror.

The following diagram shows the reflection property of light where ∠i is denoted for the angle of incident and ∠r is denoted for the angle of reflection.

Consider a plane mirror, on which A is the incident ray of light hitting at point B and C is the ray of reflected light that bounces back from point B. Normal is the line drawn at '90°' angle or right angle on the reflecting surface. Incident ray makes the angle of the incident ∠i and reflecting a ray of light makes an angle with normal called ∠r (angle of reflection).

According to the law of reflection,

1. The law of reflection states that when the ray of light is reflected from a smooth surface the angle of reflection remains equal to the incidence angle.
2. The normal drawn to the surface, the reflected ray, and the incident ray all lie on the same plane.