Reflection and Mirrors

Front

Reflection Noun

---

[ri-flek-shun]

Back

Reflection

---

The bouncing of a wave, such as light, off a surface after it strikes the surface.

---

Example: A light ray hits a mirror and bounces off, showing reflection.

Front

Ray Noun

---

[ray]

Back

Ray

---

A straight line with an arrowhead used in a model to represent the path that light travels.

---

Example: A light ray hits a mirror and reflects, showing the path light travels.

Front

Normal Noun

---

[nor-muhl]

Back

Normal

---

An imaginary line drawn perpendicular to a reflecting surface at the point where a light ray strikes it.

---

Example: The image shows a normal line perpendicular to a mirror, illustrating how light reflects.

Front

Incident ray Noun

---

[in-si-dent ray]

Back

Incident ray

---

The ray of light that travels from a light source toward a surface before reflection occurs.

---

Example: The image shows a light ray from a flashlight hitting a mirror, illustrating the incident ray before reflection.

Front

Reflected ray Noun

---

[ri-flek-ted ray]

Back

Reflected ray

---

The ray of light that bounces off a surface and moves away from it after reflection.

---

Example: The image shows a light ray reflecting off a mirror, illustrating the reflected ray and angles involved.

Front

Angle of incidence Noun

---

[ang-guhl uv in-si-dens]

Back

Angle of incidence

---

The angle formed between an incoming incident ray and the normal to the reflecting surface.

---

Example: The image shows how the angle of incidence is formed between the incoming ray and the normal line on a mirror.

Front

Angle of reflection Noun

---

[ang-guhl uv ri-flek-shun]

Back

Angle of reflection

---

The angle formed between a reflected ray and the normal to the reflecting surface.

---

Example: The image shows a light ray hitting a mirror, reflecting off, and forming an angle with the normal line.

Front

Law of reflection Noun

---

[law uv ri-flek-shun]

Back

Law of reflection

---

The scientific principle stating that the angle of reflection is always equal to the angle of incidence.

---

Example: A flashlight shines on a mirror, showing the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection.

Front

Opaque Adjective

---

[oh-payk]

Back

Opaque

---

Describes a material that does not allow any light to pass through it, instead absorbing or reflecting light.

---

Example: An opaque object blocks light, creating a shadow behind it.

Front

Plane mirror Noun

---

[playn meer-er]

Back

Plane mirror

---

A mirror with a perfectly flat, smooth reflective surface that produces a virtual image.

---

Example: A plane mirror reflects light from a source, showing angles of incidence and reflection.