Reflection Flashcards
difference between specular and diffusion reflection
- specular reflection is light reflected from a smooth surface at a definite angle
- diffusion reflection is produced by rough surfaces that reflect light in all directions
when does total internal reflection happen
when the angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle
what happens as you increase the angle of incidence
more light gets internally reflected and less is refracted out
what happens when the angle of incidence is equal to the critical angle
- the light ray rests on the surface of the object
- some light is internally reflected too
what is the law of reflection
the angle of incidence = the angle of reflection
what is the angle of incidence
the angle between the incoming wave and the normal
what is the angle of reflection
the angle between the reflected wave and the normal
what is the normal of an object
the line perpendicular to the boundary of the object and the surface the light is reflecting off of
what is the point of incidence
the point at which the wave hits the boundary
when does total intenal reflection happen
- when the wave travels through a dense material like glass or water
- towards a less dense substance like air
what does every material have regarding angles
its own critical angle
what happens when the angle of incidence is less than the critical angle
- most of the light is refracted to the outer layer
- but some is still internally relfected
what happens when the angle of incidence is larger than the critical angle
- no light is refracted out
- it is all internally reflected (total internal reflection)
what is specular diffusion
when light waves are reflected in one direction, off a smooth surface
what is an example of specular reflection
the clear reflection when light is reflected by a mirror
