W5 Reflection at Plane Surfaces

What is the first law of reflection?

The incident light ray and the reflected light ray lie in one plane perpendicular o the surface at the point of incidence

What is the second law of reflection?

The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection

What is the reversibility principle phenomenon?

If an incident ray started on the right hand side, it would reflect back along the same path- this is applicable to both reflection and refraction

What is specular reflection?

When light rays fall across a glossy smooth surface and are reflected in a single, definite direction

What is diffuse reflection?

When light rays fall on a non-glossy, matte surface and light rays are scattered/ reflected in many directions

What does laterally inversed mean?

Left to right

What does the image from a plane mirror look like?

The image is as far behind the mirror as the object is as front, the image is the same size as the object, the image is reversed, virtual, laterally inverted and upright

How do you construct a back-reflecting mirror?

Thin layer of aluminium on the back of the glass sheet and is prone to the formation of multiple images

Why are high grade optical mirrors expensive?

They are front reflecting to prevent the formation of multiple reflections but the coating has a short lifespan and cannot resist corrosion