Reflection of Light

Front

Normal Noun

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[nor-muhl]

Back

Normal

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

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Example: The 'Normal' is an imaginary line drawn at a right angle (90°) to a surface, like a mirror, where a light ray hits.

Front

Incident Ray Noun

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[in-si-dent rey]

Back

Incident Ray

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A ray of light that travels towards and strikes a surface, such as a mirror or lens.

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Example: A ray of light from a source, called the incident ray, strikes a surface like a mirror and then bounces off.

Front

Reflected Ray Noun

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[ri-flek-ted rey]

Back

Reflected Ray

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A ray of light that has bounced off a surface after the incident ray has struck it.

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Example: This diagram shows a ray of light from a flashlight (incident ray) hitting a mirror and bouncing off as the 'Reflected Ray'.

Front

Angle of Incidence Noun

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[ang-guhl uv in-si-dens]

Back

Angle of Incidence

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The angle formed between an incoming incident ray and the normal to the surface at the point of impact.

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Example: This diagram shows an incident light ray hitting a surface. The angle of incidence (θi) is the angle between this incoming ray and the perpendicular line.

Front

Angle of Reflection Noun

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[ang-guhl uv ri-flek-shuhn]

Back

Angle of Reflection

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The angle formed between a reflected ray and the normal to the surface at the point of reflection.

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Example: This diagram shows that the angle of reflection is the angle between the reflected light ray and the line perpendicular to the reflecting surface.

Front

Specular Reflection Noun

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[spek-yuh-ler ri-flek-shuhn]

Back

Specular Reflection

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Reflection from a smooth surface where parallel incident rays are reflected as parallel rays, creating a clear image.

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Example: Parallel light rays strike a smooth surface and bounce off in a single, uniform direction, remaining parallel to each other.

Front

Diffuse Reflection Noun

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[dih-fyoos ri-flek-shuhn]

Back

Diffuse Reflection

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The scattering of light from a rough surface, causing parallel incident rays to reflect in many different directions.

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Example: When parallel light rays hit a rough or uneven surface, they reflect and scatter in many different directions.

Front

Plane Mirror Noun

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[pleyn meer-er]

Back

Plane Mirror

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A mirror with a flat, smooth reflective surface that produces images through specular reflection.

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Example: This diagram shows a ray of light hitting a plane mirror. The incoming light (incident ray) bounces off (reflected ray) at the same angle it arrived.

Front

Virtual Image Noun

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[vur-choo-uhl im-ij]

Back

Virtual Image

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An image formed where light rays appear to diverge from, but do not actually pass through that point.

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Example: This diagram shows light rays from an object reflecting off a convex mirror. The rays appear to come from a point behind the mirror, forming a virtual image.

Front

Wavefront Noun

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[weyv-fruhnt]

Back

Wavefront

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An imaginary surface connecting points of a propagating wave that are in the same phase of oscillation.

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Example: This diagram shows that a wavefront is a line connecting the crests of adjacent waves, which move together in the direction of propagation.