Reflection of Light

Reflection of Light

Law of Reflection

• The law of reflection states that the angle of incidence (θi) is equal to the angle of reflection (θr)
• This means that the light ray bounces back at the same angle it hit the surface

Types of Reflection

• Specular Reflection: occurs when light hits a smooth surface and bounces back in a mirror-like fashion
• Diffuse Reflection: occurs when light hits a rough surface and scatters in different directions

Reflection at a Plane Mirror

• The image formed by a plane mirror is:
  • Virtual (cannot be projected onto a screen)
  • Upright (not inverted)
  • The same size as the object
  • Reversed left to right (but not top to bottom)

Reflection at a Spherical Mirror

• Concave Mirror: curves inward, can produce a real or virtual image
• Convex Mirror: curves outward, always produces a virtual image
• The mirror equation: 1/f = 1/do + 1/di, where f is the focal length, do is the object distance, and di is the image distance

Law of Reflection

• The angle of incidence (θi) is equal to the angle of reflection (θr)
• Light ray bounces back at the same angle it hit the surface

Types of Reflection

• Specular Reflection: smooth surface, mirror-like reflection
• Diffuse Reflection: rough surface, scatters in different directions

Reflection at a Plane Mirror

• Image formed is:
  • Virtual (cannot be projected onto a screen)
  • Upright (not inverted)
  • Same size as the object
  • Reversed left to right (but not top to bottom)

Reflection at a Spherical Mirror

• Concave Mirror: curves inward, produces real or virtual image
• Convex Mirror: curves outward, always produces virtual image
• Mirror equation: 1/f = 1/do + 1/di
  • f: focal length
  • do: object distance
  • di: image distance