LIGHT CONTROL 7-3

Reflection
By reflection a medium redirects incident light beams. Reflection may
be specular, spread, diffuse, or compound, and selective or nonselective.
Reflection from the front of a glass plate is called "firsf-surface reflection
and that from the back "second"-surface reflection. Refraction, diffu-
sion, and absorption by supporting mediums are avoided in first-surface
reflectors.
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1. Specular Reflection
If a surface is polished (microscopically smooth) it reflects specularly,
that is, the angle between the reflected ray and the normal to the surface
will equal the angle between the incident ray and the normal, Fig. 7-5(a.)
If two or more rays are reflected, these may form a virtual, erect, or
inverted image of the source. A lateral reversal of the image occurs when
odd numbers of plane mirrors are used, as in Fig. 7-5(6). The image is
left-handed for an even number, right-handed for an odd number.
SOURCE
OBSERVER
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FIG. 7-5. (a) The law of reflection states that the angle of incidence i
= angle of
reflection r. (b) A lateral reversal of the image accompanies reflections from an
odd number of plane mirrors.
Examples
of
specular reflectors
1. Polished and electroplated metals* and first-surface silvered glass or
plastic mirrors: Inside-aluminized, sealed-beam lamps and reflecting tele-
scopes use first-surface reflectors in which the incident light strikes the
thin metal reflecting surface without passing through the glass, as shown
Silver, gold, or copper for example.