Reflection and refraction are both phenomena that occur when light interacts with surfaces or media, but they involve different processes:
Reflection:
- Definition: Reflection is the bouncing back of light when it strikes a surface.
- Law of Reflection: The angle of incidence (the angle between the incoming light ray and the normal to the surface) is equal to the angle of reflection (the angle between the reflected ray and the normal).
- Surface: Reflection occurs on surfaces, which can be smooth (like a mirror) or rough (like a wall).
- Types: There are two main types of reflection:
- Specular Reflection: Reflection from a smooth surface, where light rays are reflected in a single direction, producing a clear image.
- Diffuse Reflection: Reflection from a rough surface, where light is scattered in many directions, leading to a lack of clear image.
Refraction:
- Definition: Refraction is the bending of light as it passes from one medium to another with a different density, causing a change in speed.
- Snell's Law: The relationship is described by Snell's Law, which states that the ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of the angle of refraction is constant, depending on the indices of refraction of the two media.
- Medium: Refraction occurs at the boundary between two different media (e.g., air and water).
- Effect: This bending can lead to various optical effects, such as the apparent displacement of objects when viewed through water or the formation of rainbows.
Summary:
- Reflection involves light bouncing off surfaces, whereas refraction involves light bending as it moves between different media. Both phenomena are fundamental to understanding optics and play crucial roles in how we perceive the world around us.
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