Lesson 1 –

Reflection
of Light
After going through this module, you are expected to:
1.Describe what happens when light is reflected;
2.Draw the path of light rays as they are reflected;
3. Identify and describe the following terms:
4.a. incident ray;
b. reflected ray;
c. the normal;
d. the angle of incidence; and
e. the angle of reflection.
4. Relate the angle of incidence and the angle of
reflection;
5. Distinguish between diffuse and specular
reflection;
Light:
Reflection
Understanding light is essential.
Light plays a significant role on how
we perceive the world around us.
We see things when light enters our
eyes. Light interacts with the
matter around us. We begin our
understanding of light when we
investigate its properties. One of
which is reflection
Light travels in a straight line. These straight-
line paths are called rays. Light also travels
through the shortest path possible. When we
approximate the treatment of light in which
light waves are represented as straight-line
rays, we call it Geometric Optics. You have
learned in Grade 10 that light can be
considered as an electromagnetic wave;
however, we will not deal with this aspect. In
this module, we will use the ray model of light
to describe the many aspects of light such as
reflection and refraction.
Reflection of Light
What happens when light strikes a surface?
Some of the light is reflected as evidenced
by the laser activity while others are
transmitted or absorbed.
This behavior of light to bounce as it strikes a
surface is called reflection, as a result, it
enables us to see images being reflected
from a surface. As the light approaches a
reflecting surface, it obeys the Law of
Reflection. It tells us that the angle of
For you to fully understand the law of reflection,
analyze Figure 2. It illustrates the incident ray as a
light ray approaching the surface or mirror that
creates an angle of incidence (i) with the Normal
line (N) which is an imaginary line drawn
perpendicularly from the point of incidence on the
surface or mirror. On the other side of the Normal
(N) line is the reflected ray that leaves the surface
or mirror. The distance between the reflected ray
and the Normal line is called the angle of reflection
(r).
Therefore, the normal (N) divides the incident ray
and reflected ray into two equal angles.
 The figure above shows different reflecting surfaces with varying orientations. You will notice that the
incident ray will always have the same angle as the reflected ray relative to the imaginary normal line.
Diffuse vs. Specular Reflection Mirrors are typical
examples of a reflecting surface. Mirrors have a very
smooth surface that give individual rays of light in the
same surface orientation. Thus, when you look into a
mirror, you can see a clear image of yourself.
However, mirrors are not the only type of material
that demonstrates a reflection of light. Most of the
objects around us do! As you read this module, light is
reflected from the pages, allowing you to read the
written information. Analyze figure 5, distinguish the
difference between diffuse and specular reflection.
Figure 5. Diffuse and Specular Reflection Smooth surface
bounces light in one direction creating a clear and vivid
reflection of the image which is called specular reflection. On
the other hand, a rough surface reflects light in various
directions due to the uneven orientation of the surface, which
will result in a hazy or unclear image of the object. These two
types of reflection have many practical applications, let us
cite some common examples. Night driving on a wet asphalt
road becomes difficult due to glare produced by headlights of
incoming vehicles. This is because the rough surface was
filled with rainwater making the surface smooth, instead of a
diffuse reflection, a more concentrated beam of light
produces specular reflection. In the same manner,
photography also takes advantage of specular and diffuse
reflection in taking images of a subject. A picture of a
beautiful mountain being reflected in the calm and still water
is a classic example.
Reflection
Reflection occurs when light bounces off the surface of an
object. The classic example is a mirror. When light hits a
reflective surface, it changes direction and goes back into
the medium from which it came. The angle at which light
hits the surface (angle of incidence) is equal to the angle
at which it bounces off (angle of reflection).
Refraction
Refraction happens when light passes from one medium
into another and changes speed, causing the light to
bend. This bending effect is why objects appear distorted
when viewed through water. For instance, when you put a
straw in a glass of water, the straw looks bent or broken
at the surface. The degree of bending depends on the
The propagation of light refers to the way light
travels through different mediums.
Let's explore the key concepts involved:
1. Wave-Particle Duality
Light exhibits both wave-like and particle-like
properties. It can be described as electromagnetic
waves or as particles called photons.
2. Speed of Light
In a vacuum, light travels at a constant speed of
approximately 299,792,458
meters per second299,792,458 \, \text{meters per
second}. This speed changes when light passes
through different materials, such as air, water, or
glass.
3. Refraction
When light travels from one medium to another, it
changes speed and direction. This bending of light is
known as refraction. For example, when light enters
water from air, it slows down and bends towards the
normal line.
4. Reflection
Reflection occurs when light bounces off a surface.
The angle of incidence (incoming light) is equal to the
angle of reflection (reflected light).
5. Diffraction
Light can bend around obstacles and spread out after
passing through small openings. This phenomenon is
called diffraction.
6. Dispersion
Dispersion happens when different
wavelengths of light are refracted by
different amounts. This causes white light
to split into its constituent colors, like in a
rainbow.
7. Absorption and Scattering
When light interacts with particles or atoms
in a medium, it can be absorbed or
scattered. Absorption converts light energy
into other forms, while scattering redirects
light in different directions.