What is reflection of lightClass 8

The direction of light rays changes when they reflect from a surface, travel from one transparent medium into another or travel through a medium whose composition is continuously changing. When light travels through the different medium two phenomena happen. They are reflection and refraction. Let us now discuss what is the difference between reflection and refraction.

10 examplesof reflection of light

Irregular reflection: Irregular reflection also termed as diffuse reflection, which occurs when the beam of light falls on the rough surface and reflects light in various directions.

When a ray of light comes back into the same medium after striking the surface of another medium then the phenomenon is called reflection of light. In other words, reflection is the bouncing back of the light rays from a surface in the same medium.

5 examplesof reflection of light

In simple terms, reflection implies the rebounding of light, sound, heat, or another object back to the source, without absorbing it. It changes the direction of the beam of light when it falls on the plane so that the ray goes back to the medium, in which it is generated.

The change of direction and speed of light as it enters from one medium to another is termed as the refraction of light. Examples of refraction are lenses, prism, telescope.

The Refractive index is the ratio of the angle of incidence to the angle of refraction. It determines the speed of a ray of light in the new medium. This implies that denser the medium the slow is the speed of light, and vice versa.

Refraction is the phenomenon of light, in which the wave is diverted when it passes diagonally through the interface between two media of different densities. It refers to the shift in direction and speed of the beam of light waves, because of the change in the transmission medium.

What is reflection of lightin Physics

There are various phenomena, which are based on refraction such as the apparent bending of an object that is partially submerged in water, and the mirages observed in a hot, sandy desert. The refraction of visible light is also an important characteristic of lenses that enables them to focus a beam of light onto a single point.

Regular reflection: Regular reflection is also termed as specular reflection, which occurs when the beam of light falls on a regular, polished, and smooth plane.

As we have seen the difference between reflection and refraction, let us now discuss some more details regarding reflection and refraction.