The process of bouncing back of light in the same medium on striking the surface of any object is known as reflection of light.
Reflection of light is of two types:
REGULAR REFLECTION
When the reflecting surface is smooth and well polished, e.g. mirror, the parallel rays falling on it are reflected parallel to one another i.e. the reflected light goes in one particular direction as shown in the figure below. Then it is known as a regular reflection.
Regular Reflection
IRREGULAR REFLECTION .
When the reflecting surface is rough, the parallel rays falling on it are reflected in different directions as shown in the figure below. Such a reflection is known as irregular, reflection or diffused reflection or scattering of light.
Some Important Terms Used in the reflection of Light Let us consider the reflection of light by a plane mirror as shown in the diagram. INCIDENT RAY Any ray of light that strikes the reflecting surface is called the incident ray. In the figure above. 'AO' is the incident ray.…
Laws of Reflection There are two laws of reflection FIRST LAW OF REFLECTION According to the first law of reflection, the incident ray, the reflected ray and the normal at the point of incidence all lie in the same plane which is perpendicular to the plane of the reflecting surface…
SPHERICAL MIRRORS A mirror whose reflecting surface is a part of a hollow sphere of glass is known as a spherical mirror. Spherical mirrors are of two types : CONCAVE MIRROR A concave mirror is that spherical mirror in which the reflecting surface is towards the centre of…