Reflection of spherical wave from plane

In summary, the problem is to draw a ray diagram and sketch wavefronts for a spherical wave reflecting from a planar surface. The Law of Reflection can be used to accurately draw the ray diagram and the rest can be done intuitively.
  • #1
ThetaPi
9
0
Problem statement.

A spherical wave (from a point source) reflects from a planar surface. Draw a ray diagram and sketch some wavefronts for the reflected wave.

Attempt

It is easy to sketch some wavefronts for the reflected waves; however, how is it possible to draw a ray diagram for this? I have only done ray diagrams for reflections from mirrors into a person's eyes.
 
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  • #2
The same as for the eye case only that this time the rays converge at their source and diverge ( do not take these words literally) away. Use a point source on a peace of paper draw rays around it than place a line which represents the planar surface. The rest is quite intuitive.
 
  • #3
ThetaPi said:
Problem statement.

A spherical wave (from a point source) reflects from a planar surface. Draw a ray diagram and sketch some wavefronts for the reflected wave.

Attempt

It is easy to sketch some wavefronts for the reflected waves; however, how is it possible to draw a ray diagram for this? I have only done ray diagrams for reflections from mirrors into a person's eyes.

Welcome to PF :smile:

Look up the Law of Reflection, that is the key here.
 

1. How does a spherical wave reflect from a plane?

When a spherical wave hits a plane, it is partially reflected and partially transmitted. The reflected wave follows the law of reflection, where the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection. The transmitted wave travels through the plane and continues as a spherical wave on the other side.

2. What is the difference between specular and diffuse reflection?

Specular reflection occurs when a wave reflects off a smooth surface, such as a mirror, and the reflected wave travels in a single direction. Diffuse reflection, on the other hand, occurs when a wave reflects off a rough surface, such as a piece of paper, and the reflected wave scatters in multiple directions.

3. How does the angle of incidence affect the reflection of a spherical wave?

The angle of incidence determines the angle at which the spherical wave hits the plane. As the angle of incidence increases, the angle of reflection also increases, causing the reflected wave to be deflected at a steeper angle. When the angle of incidence is equal to 90 degrees, the wave will be reflected straight back in the opposite direction.

4. What is the law of reflection for spherical waves?

The law of reflection states that the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection. This applies to spherical waves reflecting off of a plane surface. It is a fundamental principle of wave optics and is used to calculate the direction of the reflected wave.

5. How is the amplitude of a reflected spherical wave affected by the distance between the source and the plane?

The amplitude of a reflected spherical wave decreases as the distance between the source and the plane increases. This is due to the spreading of the wave as it travels through space. The farther the wave has to travel, the more it will spread out, resulting in a decrease in amplitude at the reflecting surface.

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