Reflection of Light

Lesson 2
(1 hour)
 Reflection of Light
Word bank
REFLECTION
The bouncing back of a particle or a
wave that strikes the boundary between
two media
 Reflection of Light
Word bank
ANGLE OF INCIDENCE
Angle between an incident ray and the
normal to the surface it encounters.

ANGLE OF REFLECTION
Angle between a reflected ray and the
normal to the surface of reflection
 Reflection of Light
LAW OF REFLECTION
The angle of incidence (i) is equal to the
angle of reflection (r)

Incident ray Reflected ray

Angle if incidence Angle of reflection

Glass mirror
Normal line is perpendicular to the glass
 Reflection of light
EXAMPLE
If the angle between the mirror and the
incident ray is 65º what is the angle of
reflection?

Given: 65º Angle of reflection?

Glass mirror
 Reflection of Light
SOLUTION
If the angle between the mirror and
incident ray is 65º, then the angle of
incidence must be 25º (90º - 65º).
So, the angle of reflection must also be
25º.
 Reflection of Light
YOUR TURN
If the angle between the incident ray and
reflected ray is 45º, what is the angle of
reflection?
 Reflection of Light
SOLUTION
The angle of incidence is equal to the
angle of reflection (Law of reflection). If the
angle between the incident ray and
reflected ray is 45º then the angle of
reflection is equal to 22.5º (45º divided by
2).
 Reflection of Light
HOMEWORK
A light ray moving along the horizontal
strikes a mirror tilted 30º from the
horizontal. Determine the angle of
reflection.

i r ror
s m
l a s Angle of tilt of the mirror = 30º
G