the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection

The subject of this chapter is the reflection and refraction Mike The Feynman Lectures on Physics New Millennium Edition Your time and consideration are greatly appreciated. So, if you can, after enabling javascript, clearing the cache and disabling extensions, please open your browser's javascript console, load the page above, and if this generates any messages (particularly errors or warnings) on the console, then please make a copy (text or screenshot) of those messages and send them with the above-listed information to the email address given below.īy sending us information you will be helping not only yourself, but others who may be having similar problems accessing the online edition of The Feynman Lectures on Physics. This type of problem is rare, and there's a good chance it can be fixed if we have some clues about the cause. which operating system you are using (including version #).which browser you are using (including version #).If it does not open, or only shows you this message again, then please let us know: So, please try the following: make sure javascript is enabled, clear your browser cache (at least of files from ), turn off your browser extensions, and open this page: If you use an ad blocker it may be preventing our pages from downloading necessary resources. If you have have visited this website previously it's possible you may have a mixture of incompatible files (.js. In order to read the online edition of The Feynman Lectures on Physics, javascript must be supported by your browser and enabled. The amount of reflected light at the interface depends on the differences in refraction between the two adjoining materials.There are several reasons you might be seeing this page. The laws of reflection are obeyed at all interfaces. Each time a ray of light strikes a boundary between two materials - air/glass or glass/water - some of the light is reflected. Light is also reflected when it is incident on a surface or interface between two different materials such as the surface between air and water, or glass and water. In both cases the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection at the point that the light ray strikes the surface. 2 Light reflection from a) smooth surface (specular reflection ) and b) rough surface (diffuse reflection). Reflection from such a rough surface is called diffuse reflection and appears matte.įigure. Consequently, the outgoing rays are reflected at many different angles and the image is disrupted. 2b) strike different regions which are inclined at different angles to each other. The law of reflection is still obeyed, but the incident rays (Fig. When the surface of water is wind-blown and irregular, the rays of light are reflected in many directions. We call the reflection from a smooth, mirror-like surface specular (as shown in Figure 2a). Just as images are reflected from the surface of a mirror, light reflected from a smooth water surface also produced a clear image. All Things EqualĪll reflected light obeys the relationship, called Snell's Law, that the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection. The dashed line (normal) is perpendicular to the surface. 1 Light reflected from a metal surface with angle of incidence i equal to the angle of reflection i'. 1 that the angles of incidence i and reflection i' are equal by joining the two angles with an equal sign.įigure. 1) at right angles to the mirror located at the point where the rays meet. The law of reflection requires that two rays are at identical angles but on opposite sides of the normal which is an imaginary line (dashed in Fig. In Figure 1 we use a single line to illustrate a light ray reflected from the surface. Reflection involves two rays - an incoming or incident ray and an outgoing or reflected ray. A beam of light incident on the metal surface is reflected. Polished metal surfaces reflect light much like the silver layer on the back side of glass mirrors. The walls in the room that you are in do not emit their own light they reflect the light from the ceiling 'lights' overhead. What is it about objects that let us see them? Why do we see the road, or a pen, or a best friend? If an object does not emit its own light (which accounts for most objects in the world), it must reflect light in order to be seen. Home > Teachers and Parents > Articles The Reflection of Light

The angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection