Sunday, October 13, 2013

What are reflected rays and incident rays?

The light beam which is falling on a surface is known as the incident ray (to that specific surface). The light beam which is reflected off the surface is known as the reflected ray (of that specific surface). If we were to draw a line perpendicular to the surface on which the light is incident, we obtain the angle of incidence and the angle of reflection. The perpendicular line is generally known as the normal. The angle made by the incident ray with the normal is known as the angle of incidence, while the angle made by the reflected ray with the normal is known as the angle of reflection.


According to the law of reflection, the angle of incidence and angle of reflection are the same. 


Note that the incident ray will result in a reflected ray if the light beam stays in the same medium, for example, the reflection from a mirror. If the light goes from one medium to another, instead of reflection we get refraction.


Hope this helps.

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