Physics – Reflection & Refraction

Sahil Khandare
 Reflection
• Reflection is the change in direction of a wavefront at an
interface between two different media so that the wavefront
returns into the medium from which it originated. Common
examples include the reflection of light, sound and water
waves.
• The law of reflection says that for specular reflection the angle
at which the wave is incident on the surface equals the angle
at which it is reflected. Mirrors exhibit specular reflection.
 Reflection
For light :-
angle of incidence i = angle of reflection r
*Angles are measured with respect to a ‘normal’

Waves and particles are reflected in

exactly the same way.
 Laws of Reflection
If the reflecting surface is very smooth, the reflection of light
that occurs is called specular or regular reflection. The
laws of reflection are as follows:
• The incident ray, the reflected ray and the normal to the
reflection surface at the point of the incidence lie in the
same plane.
• The angle which the incident ray makes with the normal
is equal to the angle which the reflected ray makes to the
same normal.
• The reflected ray and the incident ray are on the
opposite sides of the normal.
These three laws can all be derived from the Fresnel
equations.
 Total Internal Reflection
• At a boundary between two optical media, typically some light
is reflected from the surface and some is refracted into it e.g.
the multiple images seen in glass shop-fronts.
• Going from a slower medium (e.g. glass) to a faster medium
(e.g. air), when the angle of incidence is greater than a critical
angle, all of the light is internally reflected.
 Refraction
• Ray of light changes direction as its speed changes at a boundary.
• Ratio of sin i / sin r is constant, called the refractive index.
• Refraction is the bending of a wave when it enters a medium where
its speed is different. The refraction of light when it passes from a
fast medium to a slow medium bends the light ray toward the normal
to the boundary between the two media.
• The amount of bending depends on the indices of refraction of the
two media and is described quantitatively by Snell's Law.
• Refraction is responsible for image formation by lenses the eye.
Refraction
 Snell’s Law
• For light, refraction follows Snell's law, which states that, for a
given pair of media, the ratio of the sines of the angle of
incidence θ1 and angle of refraction θ2 is equal to the ratio of
phase velocities (v1 / v2) in the two media, or equivalently, to
the indices of refraction (n2 / n1) of the two media.
 Dispersion Of White Light
Speed of light in glass depends on frequency (colour).
Dispersion Of White Light
With a diffraction grating
Thank You