Mirrors
Mirrors
Reflection of Light
Lesson 4
Reflection of Light
● Reflection is the
bouncing back of
light into the same
medium it has been
traveling after
striking a surface.
● Incident ray – light
which falls on the mirror/
polished surface is
called incident ray.
● Reflected ray – ray of
light which goes back in
the same medium after
striking the surface is
called reflected ray.
● Normal – the perpendicular
drawn to the reflecting surface
is called normal at that point.
● Angle of incidence – the
angle between the incident
ray and the normal is known
angle of incidence.
● Angle of reflection – the angle
between reflected ray and the
normal is known angle of
reflection.
Two Types of Reflection
● There are two types of reflection. Reflection from smooth
surfaces is called regular, or specular reflection.
● Reflection from rough surfaces is called diffuse
reflection.
Two Types of Reflection
● When a group of parallel rays strikes a smooth flat
surface, such as a mirror, the reflected rays are parallel
to one another. This is a regular reflection.
● When a group of parallel rays strikes a rough surface,
the normal at the point of incidence is different for each
ray.
● Consequently, when the individual rays are reflected
from the surface according to the laws of reflection, they
will be scattered in different directions. The reflected
rays are therefore not parallel to one another. This is
diffuse reflection.
The Laws of Reflection
Each individual ray for each type of reflection
obeys the following laws of reflection:
1. The angle of incidence is equal to the angle
of reflection—that is, θ i = θ r
2. The incident ray, the normal, and the
reflected ray all lie on one plane.
Sample Problem
1. A ray of light is incident on a
surface at 36° from the normal.
Find the angle between the
incident ray and the reflected ray.
Given: angle of incidence = 36°
Sample Problem
2. A ray of light strikes a surface and is
reflected such that the angle between the
incident ray and the reflected ray is 30°.
(a) What is the angle of incidence?
(b) What is the angle of reflection?
Activity 3: Laws of Reflection
Materials Needed:
● A plane mirror
● A flashlight or laser pointer
● A protractor
● Paper and pencil
Instructions:
1. Set Up the Mirror:
● Place the plane mirror flat against a surface or hold it vertically.
2. Shine a Light:
● Shine the flashlight or laser pointer at the mirror at an angle (not
straight on).
3. Observe the Reflection:
● Notice the light reflecting off the mirror. Use the protractor to
measure
4. Record Your Observations:
● Label the angle of incidence and the angle of reflection.
5. Define the Laws of Reflection
● Write down the following definition based on your
observation:
a. The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection
(i = r).
b. The incident ray, the reflected ray, and the normal all lie
in the same plane.
Questions:
1. Did you notice that the angle of incidence equals the angle of
reflection?
2. How can this principle be seen in real-life situations (e.g., in
mirrors)?
Mirrors
● A mirror is a reflective
surface that bounces off
light, producing either a real
image or a virtual image.
● A mirror is not necessarily a
silvered plate of glass.
Rather, it is any surface that
is smooth enough to
produce a regular reflection
of light incident upon it.
Two Types of Mirror
1. Plane Mirror
● A plane mirror is just a smooth,
mirrored surface that is
completely flat. This makes the
image clear and undistorted.
● The ordinary mirror you have at
home where you see the exact
image of yourself is a plane
mirror.
● Plane mirrors are also used by
architects or interior designers
to make a room appear bigger.
Two Types of Mirror
2. Spherical Mirror
● A spherical mirror is a mirror that has a
consistent curve and constant radius of
curvature - a sphere-shaped mirror.
● A spherical mirror has a reflecting surface
taken from the surface of a sphere. It may be
concave or convex.
Two Types of Spherical Mirror