Why Can't We See Our Face in Newspapers & Walls?

  • Context: High School 
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    Logic Optics
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SUMMARY

The inability to see one's face in newspapers and walls is due to the nature of light reflection. Highly polished surfaces, such as mirrors, reflect light in a uniform direction, allowing for clear images. In contrast, walls have rough surfaces that scatter light, preventing a coherent reflection. This fundamental principle of optics explains the difference in visibility between polished and non-polished surfaces.

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  • Concept of how light interacts with different materials
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Tush
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Ques) Why we cannot see our face in the newspaper and in the wall ?
 
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Well, to "see" your face on something, you need light to bounce of the surface in a orderly fashion. Therefore in highly polished surfaces like mirrors the light gets bounced off in one direction. whereas in something like the wall, the surface is very rough although it might seem "smooth" to touch therefore the light gets scattered and no reflection is seen!
 
ok ...Thanx :smile:
 

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