Definition
Reflection of Light is the bouncing back of light waves from a boundary surface.
Why It Matters
It governs mirrors, optical instruments, and our ability to see non-luminous objects.
Core Concepts
- Law of Reflection: Angle of incidence = Angle of reflection (measured from the normal).
- Total Internal Reflection: Occurs when the angle of incidence exceeds the critical angle in a dense medium, causing the light to reflect entirely back into the medium.
- Virtual vs. Real Image:
- Virtual: Rays only appear to come from the image (e.g., a plane mirror).
- Real: Rays actually converge at the image location (e.g., on a camera sensor).