reflection of light

Question 1

Incident ray

Answer 1

The light ray that hits the reflecting surface

Question 2

Reflected ray

Answer 2

The light ray that bounces off the reflecting surface

Question 3

Point of incidence

Answer 3

The point at which the incident ray hits the reflecting surface

Question 4

Normal

Answer 4

The imaginary line that is perpendicular to the reflecting surface at the point of incidence

Question 5

Angle of incidence, i

Answer 5

The angle between the incident ray and the normal

Question 6

Angle of reflection, r

Answer 6

The angle between the reflected ray and the normal

Question 7

Laws of reflection

Answer 7

1: the incident ray, reflected ray, and normal at the point of incidence lie in the same place
2: the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection (i=r)

Question 8

Types of reflection - regular reflection

Answer 8

Occurs at smooth surfaces. As the surface is smooth, the parallel incident rays are reflected in the some direction and the reflected rays remain parallel to each other. All the rays have the same angles of incidence and reflection. The laws of reflection apply to each individual ray.

Question 9

Types of reflection - diffused reflection

Answer 9

Occurs at rough surfaces. As the surface is uneven or rough, the parallel incident rays are reflected in different directions. The normal at different points on the surface are not parallel to the another. Thus, the angles of incident and reflection of one ray are different from that of the other rays. The laws of reflection apply to each individual ray.

Question 10

Characteristics of image formed in plane mirror

Answer 10

• The image is of the same size an the object
• it is upright
• it is virtual
• It is laterally inverted
• The distance of the image for the mirror is equal to the distance of the object from the mirror