Reflection Tim Roos
Light reflects by bouncing off
objects, just like a wave. In a
mirror, light bounces off, creating
an image. Light waves follow the
law of wave reflection. In the
example, a kaleidoscope reflects
light by bouncing off mirrors,
placed at an angle. The light
continues bouncing off mirrors,
producing a geometric design.
Diffraction
When light moves
between objects, the
waves diffract. When
the water moves around
the sandbars, the water
spreads out covering
more area.
Refraction
Light refracts when its path is bent.
Light passes through a new medium,
changes its speed, and appears to
bend its path. This effect is what is
responsible for mirages seen on hot
days where the refraction of the air
causes the light rays to bend creating
the appearance of specular reflections
in the distance (as if on the surface of a
pool of water).
Interference
When you look at your CD, you can see
a rainbow pattern. This effect is
produced because of interference of
light waves hitting the cd surface. In
case of CDs or DVDs, The circular
tracks act as diffraction grating, which
provides rays of light a little variation
of path lengths and thereby phases of
the waves at that point which will
interfere constructively and
destructively opposite to creating the
interference pattern.