Physics
Differentiate between reflection of light from a plane mirror and that from a plane wall.
Answer
| Reflection of light from a plane mirror | Reflection of light from a plane wall |
|---|---|
| When a ray of light is incident on a smooth and polished surface such as a plane mirror then regular reflection occurs. | When a ray of light is incident on a plane wall then irregular reflection occurs. |
| When a parallel beam of light is incident on a plane mirror, the reflected beam is also parallel and it is in a fixed direction . | When rays fall at different points on a plane wall then due to uneven surface at different points, light rays gets reflected in different directions. As a result, The reflected light spreads over a wide area and it does not follow a particular direction. |
Related Questions
(a) Write three characteristics of image formed by a plane mirror?
(b) How is the position of the image related to the position of the object?
Explain the following terms —
(a) plane mirror
(b) incident ray
(c) reflected ray
(d) angle of incidence
(e) angle of reflection.
Draw diagram/diagrams to show them.
State the two laws of reflection of light.
Draw a diagram to show the reflection of a ray of light by a plane mirror. In the diagram, label the incident ray, the reflected ray, the normal, the angle of incidence and the angle of reflection.