Reflection
* Imagine a ball bouncing off a wall. The ball changes direction, but it stays on the same side of the wall.
* In optics: Light bounces off a surface, like a mirror, changing its direction but staying in the same medium (air, water, etc.).
Refraction
* Imagine a ball rolling from a smooth sidewalk onto a patch of grass. The ball changes direction because it's moving slower on the grass.
* In optics: Light bends as it passes from one medium to another (like air to water). This happens because light travels at different speeds in different mediums.
Key Differences:
* Medium: Reflection occurs at the surface of a medium, while refraction happens when light passes *through* a medium.
* Speed: Reflection doesn't change the speed of light, while refraction does.
* Direction: Reflection involves a change in direction, while refraction involves a change in both direction and speed.
Examples:
* Reflection: Looking at yourself in a mirror, seeing a rainbow in a puddle.
* Refraction: A straw appearing bent in a glass of water, a magnifying glass focusing sunlight.
In short: Reflection is like bouncing, while refraction is like bending.
