* Incident Ray: The light that hits the mirror is called the incident ray.
* Normal: An imaginary line drawn perpendicular to the surface of the mirror at the point where the incident ray hits.
* Reflected Ray: The light that bounces off the mirror is called the reflected ray.
The Law of Reflection:
The angle of incidence (the angle between the incident ray and the normal) is equal to the angle of reflection (the angle between the reflected ray and the normal). This is known as the Law of Reflection.
Types of Reflection:
* Specular Reflection: This is the type of reflection that occurs from smooth surfaces like mirrors. The reflected rays are all parallel to each other, resulting in a clear image.
* Diffuse Reflection: This occurs from rough surfaces. The reflected rays are scattered in all directions, making the surface appear dull.
Properties of Reflection:
* Angle of Incidence = Angle of Reflection: This is the fundamental law governing reflection.
* Reversal of Image: Mirrors produce laterally reversed images. This means that left and right are flipped.
* No change in wavelength or frequency: The color of light remains the same after reflection.
Why Mirrors Reflect Light:
Mirrors are made of materials that are highly reflective, such as polished metals or coated glass. These materials have free electrons that can easily absorb and re-emit light energy. This process results in the reflection of light.
