REFLECTION OF LIGHT

TERMS USED :

Incident Ray : Ray of light that falls on a reflecting

surface(e.g. Mirror)[I]
Reflected Ray: Ray of light that leaves the reflecting
surface[R]
Normal : Line drawn perpendicular to the reflecting
surface at the point where the incident ray meets the
surface.[N]
Angle of incidence: Angle that the incident ray makes with
the normal
Angle of reflection : Angle that the reflected ray makes with
the normal
N
I

Laws of Refl ection

i.

Angle of incidence is equal to angle of reflection

i = r

ii.

The incident ray, the reflected ray and the normal all lie
in the same plane.

Periscope

An apparatus that is made up of mirrors or

prisms to view objects that cannot be seen
otherwise.
A simple periscope consists of two plane mirrors
placed parallel to and facing one another .The
mirror is placed such that the angle of incidence
is 45.

APPLICATION:

(USING PRISMS)

Regular & Diff use refl ection

Reflection of a parallel
beam of light on a plane
mirror results in Regular
reflection as the reflected
beam is also parallel.
Reflection of a parallel
beam of light on to a
rough(irregular) surface
results in Diffused
reflection as the angle of
incidence varies at each
point on the surface and
thus scattering the rays
in different directions.