Light reflects against things due to the interaction between light waves and the surface of an object. When light waves encounter a surface, several processes can occur, including absorption, transmission, and reflection. Reflection specifically refers to the phenomenon where light waves bounce off the surface of an object and change direction.
The reflection of light can be explained by the laws of reflection, which state:
- The incident ray: This is the incoming ray of light that strikes the surface.
- The normal: This is an imaginary line perpendicular to the surface at the point of incidence. It represents the direction that the surface is facing.
- The reflected ray: This is the ray of light that bounces off the surface after striking it. The angle between the reflected ray and the normal is equal to the angle between the incident ray and the normal. This relationship is known as the law of reflection.
When light encounters a smooth surface, such as a mirror, the reflection is known as specular reflection. In specular reflection, the incident light rays remain parallel, and they reflect off the surface with minimal scattering, resulting in a clear and sharp image.
On the other hand, when light interacts with a rough or irregular surface, such as most everyday objects, the reflection is diffuse. Diffuse reflection occurs because the surface is not perfectly smooth, causing the incident rays to scatter in various directions upon reflection. This scattering of light in different directions gives rise to a matte or non-glossy appearance, as the reflected light is spread out rather than concentrated in a particular direction.
It's important to note that the reflectivity of a surface depends on various factors, including the material, texture, and angle of incidence of the light. Different materials and surfaces have different properties when it comes to reflecting light, which is why we observe different levels of reflection in different situations.