Reflection

• Luminous object


  Emits light (e.g. light bulb, sun)
• Opaque materials


  • Anything that does not transmit light
• Light is a transverse wave
• Light travels in straight lines


  The brain uses this to determine where an image in a mirror is coming from
• Our image in a mirror is behind the mirror
• Statements about your image in a mirror

  • Left and right are swapped
  • The image appears as far away from the mirror as you are
  • The image in the mirror is the same shape and size as you
• Law of reflection


  When light is reflected from a mirror, the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection
• Law of reflection


  1. Incident ray

  2. Reflected ray

  3. Normal

  4. Angle of incidence

  5. Angle of reflection
• Angle of incidence = 45° when angle of reflection is 45°
• The brain forms the image from what it sees in a mirror by using the fact that light travels in straight lines
• Specular reflection


  Reflection from a smooth surface, produces a clear image
• Diffuse scattering


  Reflection from a rough surface, does not produce a clear image
• The independent variable was the surface (mirror vs coloured surface)