Reflection of Light: Understanding the Angle of Incidence and Angle of Reflection
What is the angle at which light hits a reflecting surface called?
The angle at which light hits a reflecting surface is called the angle of incidence.
What is the angle at which light bounces off a reflecting surface called?
The angle at which light bounces off a reflecting surface is called the angle of reflection.
Answer:
The angle at which light hits a reflecting surface is called the angle of incidence, while the angle at which light bounces off a reflecting surface is called the angle of reflection.
When light strikes a reflecting surface, it obeys the laws of reflection. The angle of incidence is defined as the angle between the incident ray and the normal (a line perpendicular to the surface) drawn at the point of incidence. Similarly, the angle of reflection is the angle between the reflected ray and the normal.
According to the laws of reflection, the angle of incidence is always equal to the angle of reflection. This means that if light strikes a reflecting surface at a certain angle, it will bounce off at the same angle on the opposite side of the normal.
This phenomenon is crucial in various optical applications, such as mirrors, lenses, and other reflective surfaces. Understanding the angle of incidence and angle of reflection helps in predicting how light will behave when it interacts with different surfaces.