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This is the definition of the reflection of a light ray. The other term related to light rays is refraction, which is the bending of a light ray as it passes from one substance into another.
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∙ 9y ago
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What happens when light is reflected off a smooth surface?
it reflicts back up
What happens when a ray of light hits a reflective surface like a mirror?
It'll undergo reflection and will get reflected back
What is the intersection point of light rays called?
The point of intersection of light rays which have been intentionally manipulated to come to a point of converge, as we do with a parabolic reflecting surface, is called the focus. The parabolic reflector will (by virtue of mathematical principles and the physics of light) redirect parallel incoming rays back off its surface to the focus of the parabola. Links are provided.
A diver shines light up to the surface of a smooth pond at a 10 degree angle some light passes into the air above and the part that reflects back into the water makes an angle of how many degrees?
10
Why does light reflect in a mirror?
A glass mirror is a piece of glass with a reflective coating on the back side. If a surface is extremely smooth and flat, it will reflect light waves without distorting them. Metal mirrors are less efficient, generally because the metal is difficult to polish to the same smoothness as glass. Water can be an effective mirror, if the surface of it is perfectly smooth. The question is Why? The answer is that light reflects off everything. It is normal for light to reflect. A photon hits an atom or molecule of substance and it bounces off it. That's how come we can see things. Because light bounces off them. So it is no mystery that light bounces off (reflects) mirrors. The only difference between mirrors and other things is they bounce nearly ALL the light wave lengths back and are smooth to not distort the reflection and we are accustomed to use them for looking at ourselves and come to think of them as different. If all the wavelengths were not reflected the mirror would have a colour. The colour of the reflected wavelengths of light. Absorption of a wavelength would be, I'd guess (I'm no scientist) the losing of some of the energy of those photons - lose all its energy and it'd be extinguished, I guess. Possibly the question really should be Why Can't We See A Mirror? because that's the funny thing: we see only the reflections and fail to see the reflective surface and that's because, again, 'seeing' means looking at reflected light. light bounces off the reflecting surface of the mirror. Note the reflecting surface of a mirror is commonly the metallic coating on the back of a sheet of glass. So if it's reflecting off metal why not make metal mirrors with no glass? Because this way is cheaper and easier. Depositing a fine layer of metal on a totally smooth piece of glass is a lot easier than taking a piece of metal and and polishing to a high finish - and then keep it that way.
What happens to the light when it strike a medium?
Light ray bounces back
What is the meaning of reflect?
To bend back; to give a backwa/d turn to; to throw back; especially, to cause to return after striking upon any surface; as, a mirror reflects rays of light; polished metals reflect heat., To give back an image or likeness of; to mirror., To throw back light, heat, or the like; to return rays or beams., To be sent back; to rebound as from a surface; to revert; to return., To throw or turn back the thoughts upon anything; to contemplate. Specifically: To attend earnestly to what passes within the mind; to attend to the facts or phenomena of consciousness; to use attention or earnest thought; to meditate; especially, to think in relation to moral truth or rules., To cast reproach; to cause censure or dishonor.
Why do you see your self in the mirror?
Mirrors have a special surface, usually at the back, that reflects light. This means that light that strikes the mirror's special surface bounces back. Light coming from you goes to the mirror's surface, bounces back and some of that light enters your eyes so that you are able to see your own image.
When light bounces back at the same in which it hit an object?
When light hits an object/surface, it's either reflected, absorbed, or refracted. For light to bounce back, the reflection has to be "specular", like a mirror. So the light bounces back with the same(reflected) image. For light to be reflected back at the source. The light has to hit perpendicular to the surface, which is 90°.
One difference between reflection and refraction of light waves is that?
reflection is when light its something like a mirror and refraction is light going through something solid that is not like a mirror when light falls on a surface and bounces back, it is reflection and when light is absorbed by the surface or passes through the surface but does not bounces back, it is refraction.
When did strike on back matchbook covers?
Matchbook covers with a strike on back design were popular in the mid-20th century, typically from the 1930s to the 1970s. This design allowed users to strike the match against the back cover to light it, making it a convenient and common feature on matchbooks during that period.
What do we call it when we change the direction light is moving?
Reflection: When light is bounced back off a surface in different or same direction Deflection: When light goes through a surface but its direction has changed from before it hit the surface
If you shine a yellow light on a white surface why does the surface look yellow instead of white?
The white surface reflects the yellow light back to you. White reflects all colours of light, so when it only has yellow light to reflect, it reflects all of the yellow light.
How light travels when it hits a mirror?
it reflects back since mirror is a opaque surface .this phenomenon of bouncing back of light is called reflection.
What is it called when light rays hit a rough surface and bounce back at different angles?
Scattering of light.
Difference between refracting and reflecting?
Reflection is bouncing back of light after falling on a polished surface while refraction is bending of light when it falls on a surface
What is reflection and refraction of light?
Reflectivity isn't a property of light, it's a property of the surface that reflects the light. It is the proportion of the energy in an incoming light beam which when it hits the surface is reflected rather than absorbed.
