Reflection and

Refraction
What is Reflection?
• the throwing back by a body or
surface of light, heat, or sound
without absorbing it
 Law of Reflection
• the angle of the incident light ray is equal to the angle of the
reflected light ray
• angle of incidence is the angle between this normal line and the incident
ray

• angle of reflection is the angle between this normal line and

the reflected ray.
Law of Reflection Formula
Types of Reflection
• Specular Reflection

• Diffuse Reflection
Specular Reflection
• often described as a mirror-like
reflection of light from the
surface

• the incident light is reflected into

a single outgoing direction
Diffuse Reflection
• the reflection of light or other
waves or particles from a surface
such that a ray incident on the
surface is scattered at many
angles rather than at just one
angle
What is Refraction

• phenomenon of light, radio

waves, etc., being deflected in
passing obliquely through the
interface between one medium
and another
Law of Refraction
• First Law of Refraction • Second Law of Refraction
• states that the incident ray, the
• angle of incidence and angle
refracted ray and the normal to
of refraction is constant which
the interface all lie in the same
is also known as Snell’s law
plane
 Snell's Law Formula
• formula that describes refraction

• angle of refraction depends on the

angle of incidence of the light, and
the indexes of refraction of the two
materials

• the index of refraction of a material

depends on the material's properties
Example
Formula
Types of Refraction
• Diffuse Refraction

• Specular Refraction

• Glossy Refraction
Diffuse Refraction
• scatters light in many angles.
Specular Refraction
• reflect light at the same as the
angle at which the light strikes
the surface
 Glossy Refraction
• Glossy surfaces are actually specular
surfaces with micro surfaces at angles to
surface plane.

• These micro surfaces refract light not only

specularly but also diffusely (at angles
very close to the specular transmission),
giving the surface a glossy appearance.