![]() ![]() Both angles are measured from the mirrors. Snell’s law, the law of refraction, is stated in equation form as \text. The angle of reflection equals the angle of incidence, according to the second law of reflection.The index of refraction is n=c/v, where v is the speed of light in the material, c is the speed of light in vacuum, and n is the index of refraction.The changing of a light ray’s direction (loosely called bending) when it passes through variations in matter is called refraction.The angles are such that our image appears exactly the same distance behind the mirror as we stand away from the mirror. When we see our reflection in a mirror, it appears that our image is actually behind the mirror - we see the light coming from a direction determined by the law of reflection. The law of reflection is very simple: The angle of reflection equals the angle of incidence. The law of reflection is illustrated in, which also shows how the angles are measured relative to the perpendicular to the surface at the point where the light ray strikes. In fact, the only way we can see an object that does not itself emit light is if that object reflects light. Large telescopes use reflections to form images of stars and other astronomical objects. A ray diagram showing light rays coming from an object, reflecting at the surface normal. ![]() When you look at the text in a book, you are actually seeing the light that is reflected from it. A ray diagram showing angle of incidence and angle of reflection. Whenever you look into a mirror or squint at sunlight glinting off a lake, you are seeing a reflection. reflection: the property of a propagated wave being thrown back from a surface (such as a mirror). ![]()
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