Question

Briefly explain the concept of reflection of light.

Answer 1

Reflection:

1. When a ray of light approaches a smooth polished surface and the light ray bounces back, it is called the reflection of light.
2. The incident light ray that land on the surface is reflected off the surface. The ray that bounces back is called the reflected ray. If a perpendicular were drawn on a reflecting surface, it would be called normal.

Types of reflection:

1. Regular reflection or specular reflection: Specular Reflection refers to a clear and sharp reflection, like the ones you get in a mirror.
2. Diffused reflection: In the case of rough surfaces, the angle of reflection when compared between points is completely haphazard and the rays incident at slightly different points on the surface is reflected in completely different directions.

Laws of reflection

1. The angle of incidence $\left(\angle i\right)$ is equal to the angle of reflection $\left(\angle r\right)$.
2. The incident ray, the reflected ray, and the normal lie on the same plane.

Concept of reflection of light

1. When a light ray interacts with a surface or a medium, one of three things can happen, There are three of them: reflection, absorption, and refraction.
2. The likelihood of any of these outcomes is determined by the nature of the surface or medium with which it interacts, with the nature of the medium being determined by the medium's opaqueness.
3. The surface of an opaque object absorbs the majority of the light, while the remainder is reflected off the surface.
4. The majority of light rays pass through transparent mediums and are refracted, while the remainder is reflected and absorbed.
5. Translucent mediums fall somewhere between transparent and opaque mediums.