The law of reflection describes how light behaves when it bounces off a surface. It states that:
- The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.
This means the angle at which the light hits the surface is the same as the angle at which it reflects away. - The incident ray, the reflected ray, and the normal (an imaginary line perpendicular to the surface at the point of incidence) all lie in the same plane.
This law applies to both smooth and rough surfaces:
- On smooth surfaces like mirrors, the reflection is regular, producing clear images.
- On rough surfaces, the reflection is diffuse, scattering light in many directions and not forming a clear image.
The law of reflection is fundamental in optics and is used in devices like mirrors, periscopes, and reflectors.