![]() ![]() ![]() Thus, a plane mirror produces regular reflection of light. In this case, parallel incident rays remain parallel even after reflection and go only in one direction and it occurs from smooth surfaces like that of a plane mirror or highly polished metal surfaces. In regular reflection, a parallel beam of incident light is reflected as a parallel beam in one direction. Regular Reflection and Diffuse Reflection of Light The straight line along which the light travels is called ray of light. The silver coating is protected by a red paint. This is why plane mirror is made by depositing a thin layer of silver metal on one side of a plane glass sheet. Silver metal is the best reflector of light. The objects having shiny or polished surface reflects more light compared to the objects having dull or unpolished surface. Thus, when light falls on the surface of an object it sends back the light. The process through which light rays falling on the surface on an object are sent back is called reflection of light. This gives a ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum over the speed of light in the substance.Light travels in a straight line. In order to measure how light will behave in different substances, scientists use the index of refraction. This is the light wave bending as it enters the water. You will see how the straw seems to move to the side. You can see an example of refraction of light in water if you put a straw in a glass of water. The speed of the light wave also changes when it moves from medium to medium. In this way light behaves like other waves such as sound waves. This is a "wave-like" behavior and is called refraction. When light moves from one medium (like air) to another medium (like water) it will change directions. This causes the beams of light to reflect at different angles. The surface may appear or feel smooth, like a piece of paper, but it is actually rough at the microscopic level. Diffuse reflections occur when a surface is rough at the microscopic level. Diffuse reflection - A diffuse reflection is when a surface reflects rays of light in a broad range of directions.Specular reflections occur on surfaces that are flat at the microscopic level such as polished silver or a smooth body of water. An example of this type of reflection is a mirror. Specular reflection - A specular reflection is when rays of light are reflected off a surface in a single outgoing direction.This means that the angle of the reflected wave of light will equal the angle of incidence of the incoming light wave. When light is reflected it obeys the law of reflection that is followed by waves. ![]() How reflective the surface is will determine how much light (and what wavelengths of light) will be reflected and how much will be absorbed or transmitted. When a wave strikes a new medium, some of the wave will bounce off the surface. How light reflects off objects affects the colors we see as well. It is reflected light that we see with our eyes. One of the most important wave-like behaviors of light is reflection. On this page we will describe some of the behaviors of light as a wave including reflection, refraction, and diffraction. Light has the unique property that it can be described in physics as both a wave and as a stream of particles called photons. In physics, light is a type of electromagnetic radiation that is visible to the eye. ![]()
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