Educator

Reflection of Light

• Light emitted by a source propagates along rays in all directions.
• When light strikes a surface, part of the light is reflected. The angle of incidence is the angle between the incident ray and the normal (perpendicular) to the surface. The angle of reflection is the angle between the reflected ray and the normal
• Law of reflection: Angle of incidence = Angle of reflection.
• The law of reflection may be derived from Fermat’s principle, which states that in traveling between two points, light follows the path of shortest time.
• A plane mirror has a polished surface that is perfectly reflecting.
• The image formed by a plane mirror has the same size as the object, and is at the same distance from the mirror as the object.