Reflection Flashcards
Waves (16 cards)
What happens when waves arrive at a boundary between two different materials?
Three things can happen: Absorption, Transmission, Reflection
Energy is transferred to the material’s energy stores, the waves carry on traveling through the new material, and the waves bounce back off the boundary.
What is absorption in the context of wave behavior?
Energy is transferred to the material’s energy stores
An example is energy absorption in a microwave oven.
What is transmission in wave behavior?
Waves carry on traveling through the new material
What is reflection in the context of waves?
Waves bounce back off the boundary
What determines what happens to waves at a boundary?
The wavelength of the wave and the properties of the materials involved
What is a ray in wave behavior?
A line showing the path a wave travels along
What does the angle of incidence equal in reflection?
Angle of reflection
What is the normal in the context of wave reflection?
An imaginary line that’s perpendicular to the surface at the point of incidence
What is the angle of incidence?
The angle between the incoming ray and the normal
What is the angle of reflection?
The angle between the reflected ray and the normal
What are the two types of reflection?
Specular reflection and Diffuse reflection
What is specular reflection?
Reflection in a single direction by a smooth surface
What is diffuse reflection?
Reflection by a rough surface where reflected rays are scattered in many directions
How does a rough surface affect the reflection of light?
The surface appears matte and does not produce a clear reflection of objects
What is an example of a surface that causes specular reflection?
A mirror
What causes the variation in angles of incidence for diffuse reflection?
The roughness of the surface, causing different normals for each incoming ray
