Reflection generally occurs in shinny surfaces that allow rebounding of light without permitting penetration through it.As against the bending of the light ray to a different medium on striking the boundary of a different surface is termed as refraction. The phenomenon of bouncing back of light rays, to that particular medium itself on experiencing a different medium is known as reflection.Key Differences Between Reflection and Refraction Thus we can say refraction depends on a material medium where light is incidenting. While in an optically denser medium, the speed of ray decreases, thus due to a decrease in speed, the light ray gets bents towards the normal. In an optically rarer medium, the speed of light increases, therefore due to an increase in speed, the ray gets bent in a direction away from the normal. While when the ray is propagating from denser medium to rarer medium (i.e., from glass to air), then the ray bends away from the normal. In such a case, the light ray shows bending towards the normal. The figure below represents the refraction of light ray:Īs we can see in the above figure that initially the light ray is propagating from air to glass (i.e., from rarer medium to denser medium). This change in the speed leads to cause variation in the direction of propagation. More simply, we can say, when light rays strike the boundary of a medium that has a different refractive index then, the ray changes its direction, bends, and starts propagating in the medium of different refractive index.īasically when the medium of propagation is changed, then the ray propagates with a different speed from the earlier one. Refraction is defined as the bending of light rays because of experiencing a difference in the refractive index of the medium. Diffuse reflection: When the surface on which light is incidenting is a rough one like paper or cloth then it is known as diffuse reflection.Specular reflection: The reflection resulting from a smooth body like a mirror is called specular reflection.Reflection of light is generally classified in two ways on the basis of the surface from which it gets reflected. Reflected ray and incident ray lie in a similar plane along with the normal.The angle of incidence and angle of reflection are equal and.There are two basic laws of reflection that states: And this change of direction results in a reflection of light rays towards the same medium. When a light ray, propagates and encounters a medium that has a different refractive index than the refractive index of actually propagating medium then there is variation in direction of propagation of ray. Propagating in such a medium that has continuously changing composition.Moving from a transparent medium to the other one or.While getting reflected from a surface,.Majorly there are 3 different conditions due to which light ray alters its direction: Basically when a source emits light and the emitted ray strikes an object present in the surrounding then it gets reflected towards the eyes of the human being and the sense of vision allows the human to see that object. We have already discussed that our sense of vision and light both are needed to see any object present near our surroundings. The figure below shows the reflection of a light ray: Reflection is defined as the change in direction of light rays due to bouncing back towards the same medium after striking the boundary of a different medium. The ratio of sine of incidence angle to sine of refraction angle is a constant term. The angle of incidence and reflection is equal. The propagation speed shows variation according to material medium. It is the bending of light ray towards a different medium. It is the rebounding phenomena of light ray in the same medium. Thus reflection and refraction are the two major concepts that must be considered while dealing with light and in this article, we will discuss the difference between these two concepts in detail. This straight path followed by light is termed as a ray of light and multiple rays forming bundle is known as a beam of light. We know that light travels with great speed and that too in a straight line. As light permits us to see the object around us because in darkness nothing is visible at all. Light and our sense of vision are the two main factors that allow the interpretation of objects around us. As the human eye is sensitive to this specific range of wavelength and thus is able to detect it. We know that electromagnetic radiation ranging from 400 to 750 nm is called light. Reflection and refraction are the two most basic characteristics of a light wave.
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