Reflection and Mirrors

angle of incidence: the angle the incoming ray makes with with an imaginary line

• angle of incidence = angle of reflection

2 Types of Reflections

• diffuse reflection: reflection of light from a rough surface

• regular reflection: (specular) reflection of light from a smooth surface

3 Types of Mirrors

1. plane mirrors: mirrors with a flat surface; objects in mirror and in real life are

   proportional

   • they only reflect virtual images, right-side up images

2. convex mirrors: surface curves outwards and images are always virtual and upright

   • example: cars in passanger-side rearview mirror

   • because the mirror is diverging, you can see a larger reflection area than with a plane mirror

   • images with appear smaller and farther away than the object really is

3. concave mirrors: surface curves inward

   • forms virtual or real images, depending on the position of the object to the focal point

     • real images appear upside-down

     • focal point: point at which the reflected rays meet along the principle axis

   • produces magnified images because mirror is converging