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prashant13b
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I want to why in ray optics. Angle between incident ray and reflecting surface normal is equal to angle between reflected ray and reflecting surface normal. Simply why angle of incidence is equal to angle of reflection?
prashant13b said:I want to why in ray optics. Angle between incident ray and reflecting surface normal is equal to angle between reflected ray and reflecting surface normal. Simply why angle of incidence is equal to angle of reflection?
A.T. said:http://www.physics.ucdavis.edu/Classes/Physics9B_Animations/ReflRefr.html
Ray Optics is based on Fermat Principle. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fermat's_principleprashant13b said:I want to why in ray optics. Angle between incident ray and reflecting surface normal is equal to angle between reflected ray and reflecting surface normal. Simply why angle of incidence is equal to angle of reflection?
In optics, Fermat's principle or the principle of least time is the principle that the path taken between two points by a ray of light is the path that can be traversed in the least time. This principle is sometimes taken as the definition of a ray of light.[1] However, this version of the principle is not general; a more modern statement of the principle is that rays of light traverse the path of stationary optical length with respect to variations of the path.[2] In other words, a ray of light prefers the path such that there are other paths, arbitrarily nearby on either side, along which the ray would take almost exactly the same time to traverse.[3]
The angle of incidence and the angle of reflection are equal because of the law of reflection, which states that the incident angle and the reflected angle are always equal in a reflection. This law is a fundamental principle in optics and is based on the conservation of energy and momentum.
The equal angles of incidence and reflection have significant implications in the field of optics. This phenomenon allows for the prediction and manipulation of light behavior, such as in the design of mirrors, lenses, and other optical devices.
The law of reflection holds true for most surfaces, but there are some exceptions. For example, when light reflects off a rough surface, the angle of reflection can vary due to the irregularities in the surface. Additionally, at the atomic level, the law of reflection may not apply due to the wave-like behavior of light.
The angle of incidence and reflection are measured from the normal, which is a line perpendicular to the surface at the point of incidence. These angles are typically measured in degrees using a protractor or other measuring device.
The concept of the angle of incidence and reflection is important in many everyday applications, such as in mirrors, lenses, and other reflective surfaces. It allows us to see objects and images, and also plays a crucial role in the functioning of many optical devices, such as cameras and telescopes.