Reflection of Light
Part of the Optics, Waves and Modern Physics section of Coddy's Physics journey. Lesson 1 of 53.
A ray is a thin beam of light: a straight line with an arrow. Where it meets a surface, the normal is the line at right angles to the surface.
The law of reflection: θr = θi, on the other side of the normal.
Angles are measured from the normal. 20° to the surface is 70° from the normal.
Challenge
A ray meets a flat mirror at α = 35° to its surface. What is the angle of reflection θᵣ?
Try it yourself
Test yourselfThis lesson includes a short quiz. Start the lesson to answer it and track your progress.
All lessons in Optics, Waves and Modern Physics
1Reflection and Refraction
Reflection of LightThe Refractive IndexSnell's LawTotal Internal ReflectionDispersionApparent DepthRecap - Optical Fiber4Mechanical Waves
What a Wave IsTwo Graphs of a WaveWhen Pulses MeetInterferenceStanding WavesHarmonicsRecap - Guitar String