P14.1 Reflection of light Flashcards
What is the dotted line called?
The normal
What is the normal line?
The line that is perpendicular the to the mirror
What are the key characteristics of a imaged formed by a plane mirror?
It is virtual
Upright
Laterally inverted
Not magnified
When is a virtual image formed?
Formed at a place where light rays appear to come from after they have been reflected or refracted
It cannot be projected onto a screen like the movie images you see at a cinema
What is a real iamge?
An image that can be seen on a screen is described as a real image because it is formed by focusing light rays onto the screen
Why can you see a clear image when you look at a mirror?
Because it has a smooth surface
What is specular reflection?
Reflection from a smooth surface
What is the key characteristic of a specular reflection?
Parallel light rays are reflected in a single direction
What is diffuse reflection?
Reflection from a rough surface
