We see the transformation of light everywhere: in store windows, in the glare of the sun on water, and of course in the mirror. But we don't really think about the mechanisms and principles of this phenomenon. But these basics are actively used in different spheres of our life. Let's go a little deeper into what light is, how it refracts, and how it is used in life.
The fundamentals of physical knowledge are the most accessible to understand, since we observe their principles with our own eyes every day around us. The same is true of the law of light reflection. This law describes the moment when light waves hit a surface, change their direction and come back only at a different angle. This doesn't just apply to mirrored surfaces. We see any object because it reflects natural sunlight or artificial light. As the rays change their direction, they pass in one medium and collide with another, some of them returning back to the primary medium. If part of the spectrum penetrates into another substance we observe the phenomenon of refraction.
To avoid confusing theory, let's understand the terminology:
From these definitions, the reflection coefficient can be derived. This coefficient shows how much of the light flux will return back to the original medium. The return coefficient is primarily influenced by the nature of the rays and the angle of incidence on the surface.
The foundation of theoretical knowledge about the laws of light propagation was laid by the ancient Greek mathematician Euclid and Aristotle. They were the first to try to describe the processes of transformation of solar activity in terms of physics in the 3rd century BC. Further theoretical materials were studied and confirmed experimentally by Newton, Huygens. It was he who first explained the geometrical regularities of optical phenomena in terms of the wave nature of radiation. His proof is based on geometric axioms about isosceles triangles. We will discuss these principles in a little more detail.
The law of light reflection describes the pattern of the phenomenon in which a ray passing through one substance, on the surface of contact with another substance, returns back. If the medium is transparent, the spectrum passes through it and we will not see a return.
Our vision perceives light from its emitter or from objects reflecting light waves. If an object reflects back some of the energy, it itself becomes an object of radiation to our eyes.
To describe the laws of geometrical optics, there are two laws:
That is, all the energy will be directed to the reflection of light, and there will be no refracted light at all. This phenomenon is called the phenomenon of total reflection of light.
There are two types of rays returning to the substance from whence they fell: specular and diffuse. It depends on the structure of the surface.
If the surface is perfectly flat and mirror-like, we can observe the process of back reflection. This is the phenomenon where waves completely return after hitting the mirror base to the source of their radiation in a parallel straight line.
That is, if you take a mirror and point the light directly perpendicular to it, it will come back exactly back.
This phenomenon can be clearly observed by placing two mirrors perpendicular to each other. Whichever way the light is directed, the spectrum will return back parallel to the original emission.
In practice, we can observe these physical laws everywhere. To make it clearer, take a laser flashlight with a thin beam of light. Turn off the light and point it at the mirror at different angles.
If you change the direction of illumination, the plane of its return will also change. This effect is used in the optical equipment of modern experimental technique. Concave mirror planes are used to focus the rays at one point. Convex, on the contrary, scatter the spectrum falling on them. This increases the angle of view.
The principle of full internal energy spectrum return, is used in the manufacture of fiber-optic cables for high-speed digital data transmission.
The phenomena we observe on a daily basis have their own principles and descriptions. We do not always think about why we see our reflection in a body of water, or a distorted portrait in a laughing room. However, these patterns are actively applied in the manufacture of optics. Where else can we observe the effect of the law of light reflection in everyday life, share in the comments and social networks.
21.12.2022
You will find 3D models of all lamps in the product card
