Understanding Wave Motion of Light: A Curious Question

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the behavior of light as a wave, particularly focusing on its reflection off surfaces like mirrors and walls. Participants explore whether the initial state of a light beam changes upon reflection and how different materials may affect this process.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant compares the reflection of light to water waves, questioning if light behaves similarly when it encounters a wall.
  • Another participant points out that a mirror is an example of a surface that produces coherent reflections of light.
  • A participant explains that irregularities in a wall can prevent coherent reflections, similar to how water waves behave at an irregular shoreline.
  • One participant seeks clarification on whether the light beam changes at its initial point when it reflects off a surface and if this change depends on the type of matter it interacts with.
  • Another participant asserts that light gets reflected, implying that without reflection, visibility would not be possible.
  • A participant speculates on whether the source of light is altered by the reflection, noting that typically there is no interaction affecting the emitter from the reflected light.
  • One participant introduces the concept of Raman scattering, suggesting that the frequency of reflected light can change under certain conditions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express various viewpoints on the nature of light reflection, with some agreeing on the basic principles of reflection while others raise questions about the effects on the light source and the impact of different materials. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the specifics of how the initial state of the light beam may change.

Contextual Notes

Participants have not fully clarified the assumptions regarding the interaction between light and different materials, nor have they resolved the implications of light reflection on the source itself.

dankelly08
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Ok so this may be an odd question but maybe there is someone here who can understand what I'm talking about.

When you have a wave of water and the water hits a wall, the waves will ripple back and causes the motion of the waves to traverse.

I was wondering if there is anything like this happens with light? When a torch is pointed at a wall because light acts like a wave does light not traverse backwards in any way at all?
 
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It's called 'a mirror'.
 
Whan a water wave strikes a shoreline that is irregular on the scale of about the wavelength or larger, you don't get a coherent reflected wave. Similarly with light. The microscopic irregularities in an ordinary wall prevent a coherent reflected wave. A mirror is very smooth so in that case you do get a coherent reflected wave.
 
Thanks :] I have written the question badly..

So really what I'm trying to find out is, if you bounce light off a mirror/wall and when the light beam hits the mirror, is there a change in the light beam at its initial state?

Does the beam (at its initial point) change depending on what type of matter it interacts with?

Does this make sense?
 
yes it gets reflected, if it does not get reflected then you will not be able to see it.

just as AJ Bentley said its a example of a mirror
 
dankelly08, do you mean to ask: Is the source of the light altered by the reflection of the beam?

(If that is, in fact your question...)I don't know of any reaction between the reflection of emitted photons and the emitter. Perhaps in the case of a reflection from a mirror or other highly reflective surface that is reflected directly back at its source (in your example the element inside the flashlight's bulb), the source might appear more luminous when observed directly.

The reflection of the light, and not its source ("initial point"), is affected by the type of matter it interacts with.

If I've made a mistake here, I'm sure some one will be kind enough to point it out for me :biggrin:
 
The frequency of light being reflected can change .
Raman scattering
 

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