REFLECTION OF LIGHT FROM PLANE SURFACES

WEEK ONE

REFLECTION OF LIGHT FROM PLANE SURFACES

Bodies like the sun and other sources of light with which we are familiar are said to be luminous since they emit light of their own accord. On the other hand, non-luminous objects around us e.g. our clothes, trees and houses cannot produce their own light. The moon is a non-luminous object.

Non luminous objects are visible because they reflect in all directions, the light which falls on them from the sun. Reflection is one of the properties of all waves. It can be defined as the bouncing back of a wave as it strikes a plane surface.

Types Of Reflection

• Regular or specular reflection
• Irregular or scattered or diffuse reflection.

In regular reflection, a parallel beam of light incident on a smooth or polished surface are reflected as a parallel beam in a specific direction.

In diffuse reflection, a parallel beam of light incident on a rough or irregular surface are reflected in various directions.

PLEASE CLICK THE PDF FILE BELOW  FOR THE FULL NOTE