When light encounters a boundary between two transparent mediums, such as air and water or air and glass, both reflection and refraction can occur simultaneously. This phenomenon is explained by the principles of wave physics and optics.
Reflection occurs when light encounters a boundary and some portion of the incident light is "bounced" back into the same medium from which it originated. This reflection obeys the law of reflection, which states that the angle of incidence (the angle between the incident light ray and the normal to the surface) is equal to the angle of reflection (the angle between the reflected light ray and the normal to the surface). The reflected component of light preserves the same frequency and polarization as the incident light.
Refraction, on the other hand, occurs when light passes from one medium to another, and its speed and direction change due to the change in the refractive index of the two mediums. The refractive index is a property of the medium and determines how much the light bends upon entering the new medium. The angle of refraction is related to the angle of incidence through Snell's law.
Regarding polarization, light consists of electric and magnetic fields oscillating in specific orientations perpendicular to the direction of propagation. When light reflects from a surface, the reflected component can become partially or completely polarized in a specific direction. This occurs because the electric field of the incident light interacts with the surface electrons of the boundary, causing selective absorption and reflection of light with specific polarization orientations. The polarization of the reflected light depends on the angle of incidence and the properties of the surface.
In summary, when light encounters a boundary between two transparent mediums, both reflection and refraction can occur simultaneously. The reflection obeys the law of reflection, preserving the frequency and polarization of the incident light. The polarization of the reflected light is determined by the properties of the surface and the angle of incidence.