Reflection of light
Reflection is the change in direction of light when it bounces off a surface.
Measuring the angle of a ray
There are two types of rays involved in reflection:
- An incident ray is the ray of light that hits the surface.
- A reflected ray is the ray of light that bounces off the surface.
To measure the angles of these rays, we also need to know about the normal:
- The normal is an imaginary line that is perpendicular (at 90°) to the surface where the light ray hits.
Laws of reflection
- The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.
- This means that the angle at which the light ray hits the surface is the same as the angle at which it bounces off.
- Both the incident ray and the reflected ray are on the same side of the normal.
flashcards
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is reflection | The change in direction of light when it bounces off a surface |
| What is an incident ray | The ray of light that hits the surface |
| What is a reflected ray | The ray of light that bounces off the surface |
| What is the normal | An imaginary line perpendicular (at 90°) to the surface where the light ray hits |
| What is the first law of reflection | The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection |
| What does the first law of reflection mean | The angle at which the light ray hits the surface is the same as the angle at which it bounces off |
| What is the second law of reflection | Both the incident ray and the reflected ray are on the same side of the normal |