Section 14­2.notebook
April 09, 2012
Reflection ­ is the turning back of an electromagnetic wave at the suface of a substance.
Reflection can be either diffuse or specular. Diffuse reflection is the reflection off a an unpolished, rough, or untextured substance. Specular reflection is the reflection of light off a smooth, shiny substance. Specular
Diffuse
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Section 14­2.notebook
April 09, 2012
Angle of Incidence ­ is the angle between a ray that strikes a surface and the normal to that surface at the point of contact.
Angle of Reflection ­ is the angle formed by the line normal to a surface and the direction in which a reflected ray moves.
θ = θ'
angle of incoming light ray = angle of reflected light ray
The angle between the ray and the surface equals 90 ­ θ
θ
θ'
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Section 14­2.notebook
April 09, 2012
The simpliest type of mirror is the flat mirror. When an object is placed in front of the mirror it forms a virtual image.
Virtual Image ­ is an image formed by light rays that only appear to intersect.
p
h
q
h'
θ
θ'
object
mirror
Image
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Section 14­2.notebook
April 09, 2012
Section Review ­ all
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