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StevenJParkes
- 12
- 0
Does the light stop and turn back or does it interact with the surface and make a u turn.
zhermes said:When light is truly reflected, it does not 'stop'---the waveform is essentially redirected from the forward direction to the reverse direction. If you've played the game Portals, you might imagine the wave going into and back out of the same place.
If the light isn't actually reflected, but is instead absorbed and re-emitted in the reverse direction, then there is some very very small period of time between it being absorbed and re-emitted.
Reflection is the phenomenon in which light bounces off a surface and changes direction. It is an important aspect of optics and plays a crucial role in how we see and perceive our surroundings.
The angle of incidence, or the angle at which light hits a surface, is equal to the angle of reflection, or the angle at which light bounces off the surface. This relationship is known as the law of reflection and holds true for all types of surfaces.
There are two main types of reflection: specular and diffuse. Specular reflection occurs when light bounces off a smooth surface, such as a mirror, at a single angle. Diffuse reflection occurs when light hits a rough surface, such as a wall, and is scattered in multiple directions.
Mirrors work by reflecting light at an equal and opposite angle, creating an image that appears to be behind the mirror. This is due to the smooth surface of the mirror, which allows for specular reflection. The type of mirror used, such as concave or convex, determines the characteristics of the reflected image.
Reflection and refraction are both ways in which light can change direction. Reflection involves light bouncing off a surface, while refraction involves light passing through a medium and changing direction due to a change in the medium's density. This is why objects appear distorted when viewed through a glass of water or a lens.