Laws of Reflection: Illuminating the Science of Reflected Light

An object reflects light that falls on it. This reflected light is received by our eyes and enables us to see things. We are able to see through a transparent medium as light is transmitted through it. Objects like the sun that give out or emit light of their own are called luminous objects. There are a number of phenomena associated with light such as image formation by mirrors, the twinkling of stars, the beautiful colours of a rainbow, bending of light by a medium and so on, all of which are intricately connected with the principles encapsulated in the laws of reflection.

Laws of Reflection: Illuminating the Path of Light

• Laws of Reflection and Optical Wonders: After striking the mirror, the ray of light is reflected in another direction. 
• The light ray, which strikes any surface, is called the incident ray. 
• The ray that comes back from the surface after reflection is known as the reflected ray.
• First Law of Reflection: Equal Angles of Incidence and Reflection: The angle of incidence (i) is equal to the angle of reflection (r). 
• This can be stated as: i=r. 
  • When a ray of light strikes a surface and is reflected, the incident ray, the reflected ray, and the normal (a line perpendicular to the surface at the point of incidence) all lie in the same plane. 
    • The angle between the incident ray and the normal is the angle of incidence, and the angle between the reflected ray and the normal is the angle of reflection. 
    • According to the first law of reflection, these two angles are equal. 

• Second Law of Reflection: Plane of Reflection: The incident ray, the reflected ray, and the normal all lie in the same plane.
  • This law emphasises that reflection occurs in a specific plane. 
  • The incident ray and the reflected ray, along with the normal, all exist on the same plane defined by the surface of reflection. 

What distinguishes Diffused and Regular Reflection and how are they Governed by the Laws of Reflection in the world of Light?

• Diffused or irregular reflection: Impact of Surface Roughness: When all the parallel rays reflected from a rough or irregular surface are not parallel, the reflection is known as diffused or irregular reflection. 
• Diffused reflection is not due to the failure of the laws of reflection. It is caused by the irregularities in the reflecting surface.  
• Regular reflection: Formation of Images: On the other hand, reflection from a smooth surface like that of a mirror is called regular reflection. Images are formed by regular reflection.