The amount of reflection depends on how different the media are.

Light reflected from a plane (flat) mirror follows the Law of Reflection: These angles are measured from the normal, a line perpendicular to the mirror. Light reflected from a plane (flat) mirror follows the Law of Reflection: These angles are measured from the normal, a line perpendicular to the mirror.

Questions: Why can you not see yourself in all flat surfaces? The paper is rough and gives irregular reflections. Questions: Why can you not see yourself in all flat surfaces? The paper is rough and gives irregular reflections.

Ray Diagrams When you look at an image in a plane mirror it is: The same size. The same distance behind the mirror as you are in front of it. Right side up and laterally inverted. Also, the reflected light has the same speed, wavelength and frequency as the incident light. Ray Diagrams When you look at an image in a plane mirror it is: The same size. The same distance behind the mirror as you are in front of it. Right side up and laterally inverted. Also, the reflected light has the same speed, wavelength and frequency as the incident light.

When drawing ray diagrams we draw two rays of light coming from the object, reflecting and then heading to the observer.

Questions: What minimum length of mirror do you need to obtain a full length view of yourself? You need a mirror half your height. Questions: What minimum length of mirror do you need to obtain a full length view of yourself? You need a mirror half your height.

Since the surfaces are curved, the normal is different at different points.

Principle axis: straight line perpendicular to the mirror Centre of curvature (C): the point that represents the center of the sphere Focal point (F): point where all of the reflected rays meet Focal length (f): distance from the focal point to the mirror

Consider the situation where an object is beyond the center of curvature: Remember: any ray of light traveling parallel to the principal axis will reflect through the focal point. The image appears both smaller and inverted.

Now consider if the object were between C and F: The image is inverted and larger.

Finally consider the case where the image is within the focal point, F: The image is larger and upright.

Convex mirrors reflect light from their outside surface. Because of this the reflected rays always diverge. Since there is no true focal point it is placed behind the mirror

Consider an object at any point in front of a convex mirror. The image is always smaller and upright!