PHYS120

Reflection

Dr N. Dlamini

School of Chemistry & Physics

University of kwaZulu-Natal

Lecture 2

PHYS120 Geometrical Optics

Reflection

Specular reflection: Incident light rays parallel, reflected

light rays parallel.

PHYS120 Geometrical Optics

Reflection

Specular reflection: Incident light rays parallel, reflected

light rays parallel.

Diffuse reflection: Incident light rays parallel, reflected light

rays not parallel.

PHYS120 Geometrical Optics

Laws of reflection

incident n̂ reflected

PHYS120 Geometrical Optics

Laws of reflection

The incident ray, reflected ray, and normal to the mirror at

the point of incidence all lie in the same plane.

PHYS120 Geometrical Optics

Rotation of mirror

n̂

PHYS120 Geometrical Optics

Rotation of mirror

n̂ n̂

PHYS120 Geometrical Optics

Image of object behind mirror

O b

M M′
A B

PHYS120 Geometrical Optics

Image of object behind mirror

O b

P
M M′
A B

I b

PHYS120 Geometrical Optics

Image of object behind mirror

O b

P
M M′
A B

I b

OP = IP and ∠OPA = ∠IPA = 90◦

PHYS120 Geometrical Optics