Question

Which of the following statement(s) is/are true?

Statement 1: The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.
Statement 2: Light always takes the path of least time.

• A. Both the statements are incorrect.
• B. Statement 2 is not the correct explanation for statement 1.
• C. Both the statements are correct.
• D. Statement 2 is the correct explanation for statement 1.

Answer 1

Answer: (C), (D)

The correct options are
C Both the statements are correct.
D Statement 2 is the correct explanation for statement 1.

According to Fermat's principle, light always takes the path that needs the least time to travel through a medium. Because of this, during reflection, when a light ray hits a smooth surface and bounces back, the reflected ray prefers to take the path of least time. This least time path makes an angle with the normal to the surface which is equal to the angle made by the incident ray with the normal. In other words, the angle of incidence will be equal to that of the reflection.