When light undergoes reflection, the direction of its travel changes according to the laws of reflection. The laws of reflection state that the incident ray (the incoming light ray) and the reflected ray (the outgoing light ray) lie in the same plane and form equal angles with the normal, which is a line perpendicular to the reflecting surface.
Specifically, the laws of reflection can be summarized as follows:
- The incident ray, the reflected ray, and the normal to the surface all lie in the same plane.
- The angle of incidence (the angle between the incident ray and the normal) is equal to the angle of reflection (the angle between the reflected ray and the normal).
To illustrate this, imagine a beam of light traveling towards a mirror. When the light reaches the mirror surface, it reflects off the mirror. The incident ray strikes the mirror at a particular angle, known as the angle of incidence. After reflection, the light ray bounces off the mirror surface, forming the reflected ray. The angle between the reflected ray and the normal is equal to the angle of incidence.
This behavior of light during reflection holds true for most smooth surfaces, including mirrors and other reflective materials. However, it's worth noting that rough surfaces can exhibit diffuse reflection, where the incident light scatters in various directions rather than following the laws of reflection.