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Angle of reflection off a mirror12/13/2022 ![]() ![]() As you sight at the image, light travels to your eye along the path shown in the diagram below. To view an image of a pencil in a mirror, you must sight along a line at the image location. It is common to observe this law at work in a Physics lab such as the one described in the previous part of Lesson 1. (These two angles are labeled with the Greek letter "theta" accompanied by a subscript read as "theta-i" for angle of incidence and "theta-r" for angle of reflection.) The law of reflection states that when a ray of light reflects off a surface, the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection. The angle between the reflected ray and the normal is known as the angle of reflection. The angle between the incident ray and the normal is known as the angle of incidence. The normal line divides the angle between the incident ray and the reflected ray into two equal angles. This line is known as a normal line (labeled N in the diagram). At the point of incidence where the ray strikes the mirror, a line can be drawn perpendicular to the surface of the mirror. The ray of light that leaves the mirror is known as the reflected ray (labeled R in the diagram). In the diagram, the ray of light approaching the mirror is known as the incident ray (labeled I in the diagram). The diagram below illustrates the law of reflection. If a ray of light could be observed approaching and reflecting off of a flat mirror, then the behavior of the light as it reflects would follow a predictable law known as the law of reflection. Use of this website means you agree to the Legal Terms and Conditions set forth by the owners.Light is known to behave in a very predictable manner. Without permission from the copyright holders. No images, graphics, software, scripts, or applets may be reproduced or used in any manner Davidson, the Center for Integrating Research and Learning,Īll Rights Reserved. Include a diagram with lines showing how light reflects off a mirror.Īngles of Reflection Explore how light reflects off of a mirror at different angles.īACK TO THE TEACHER GUIDEBOOK Questions or comments? Send us an email. In your science notebook, write a description of what you did in this activity. ![]() Therefore, when the light from your face travels to the mirror on the wall, it should bounce off the mirror at the same angle to the eyes of your partner. Remember that light bounces off a mirror at the same angle that it arrives. Look at the angles made by the taped lines on the floor and the wall to see if they are the same size. Next, place long pieces of masking tape on the floor from the center of your 6-inch place markers to the wall straight under the center of the mirror. ![]() Mark the places that work with the 6-inch pieces of masking tape. If you can't see each other, try different places until you can. Stand at your chosen place to determine if you can see each other in the mirror. ![]() When you both agree on the places, mark them on the floor with 6-inch pieces of masking tape. Now, both you and your partner should try to guess where you both need to stand to see each other's reflection on the mirror. Attach the mirror at eye level on a wall with masking tape. Find a place where there is a wall with plenty of space around it. You need to work with a partner to do this activity. In other words, light reflects from a mirror at the same angle as it arrives. Light reflects the same way off of a mirror. Or, you can bounce a ball at an angle and it will bounce off the floor at the same angle away from you. You can throw a ball straight down, and it will bounce straight back at you. The way light bounces off mirrors is very much like the way a ball bounces against a hard surface. When you see your face in a mirror you are seeing light from your face reflecting off of the mirror. Light bounces, or reflects, off of the smooth and shiny surface of mirrors. Have you ever wondered why you can see your face in a mirror? This occurs because mirrors are very smooth and shiny. Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: Angles of Reflection Molecular Expressions: Science, Optics and You - Activities in Optics - Angles of Reflection ![]()
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