Conceptual Physics Notes on Chapter 29 Reflection & Refraction

Reflection is when a wave reaches a boundary between to media, some or all of the wave bounces back.

Reflection & Refraction When light is incident and reflects off a mirror, both the incident angle and reflected angle are equal. This is the Law of Reflection. (Angle of Incidence = Angle of Reflection) (Angle of Incidence = Angle of Reflection)

Reflection & Refraction Mirrors Any object placed in front of a plane (flat) mirror is known as a object. The image that appears to originate from a point behind the mirror is called a virtual image, because light does not actually start there.

Reflection & Refraction Your eye cannot tell the difference between a real object and a virtual image. virtual image.

Reflection & Refraction In all plane mirrors, your distance from the mirror and the virtual image distance are equal. Also image size is the same as object size.

Reflection & Refraction Diffuse Reflection Diffuse Reflection is when light are reflected on a rough surface, light is reflected in many directions.

Reflection & Refraction Paper is a good example of a diffuse reflector. If paper were not, you could only read the paper in one specific direction.

Reflection & Refraction Like light, sound will reflect. A echo is reflected sound. Many reflections of sound are called reverberations.