Reflection (Physics)

Reflection (physics)
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 (for
example at a mirror) the angle at which the wave is incident on the surface equals the angle at which
it is reflected.
In acoustics, reflection causes echoes and is used in sonar. In geology, it is important in the study
of seismic waves. Reflection is observed with surface waves in bodies of water. Reflection is
observed with many types of electromagnetic wave, besides visible light. Reflection of VHF and
higher frequencies is important for radio transmission and for radar. Even hard X-rays and gamma
rays can be reflected at shallow angles with special "grazing" mirrors.
Reflection of light
Reflection of light is either specular (mirror-like) or diffuse (retaining the energy, but losing the
image) depending on the nature of the interface. In specular reflection the phase of the reflected
waves depends on the choice of the origin of coordinates, but the relative phase between s and p
(TE and TM) polarizations is fixed by the properties of the media and of the interface between them.
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A mirror provides the most common model for specular light reflection, and typically consists of a
glass sheet with a metallic coating where the significant reflection occurs. Reflection is enhanced in
metals by suppression of wave propagation beyond their skin depths. Reflection also occurs at the
surface of transparent media, such as water or glass.
Diagram of specular reflection
In the diagram, a light ray PO strikes a vertical mirror at point O, and the reflected ray is OQ. By
projecting an imaginary line through point O perpendicular to the mirror, known as the normal, we
can measure the angle of incidence, θi and the angle of reflection, θr. The law of reflection states
that θi = θr, or in other words, the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection.
In fact, reflection of light may occur whenever light travels from a medium of a given refractive
index into a medium with a different refractive index. In the most general case, a certain fraction of
the light is reflected from the interface, and the remainder is refracted. Solving Maxwell's
equations for a light ray striking a boundary allows the derivation of the Fresnel equations, which can
be used to predict how much of the light is reflected, and how much is refracted in a given situation.
This is analogous to the way impedance mismatch in an electric circuit causes reflection of
signals. Total internal reflection of light from a denser medium occurs if the angle of incidence is
greater than the critical angle.
Total internal reflection is used as a means of focusing waves that cannot effectively be reflected by
common means. X-ray telescopes are constructed by creating a converging "tunnel" for the waves.
As the waves interact at low angle with the surface of this tunnel they are reflected toward the focus
point (or toward another interaction with the tunnel surface, eventually being directed to the detector
at the focus). A conventional reflector would be useless as the X-rays would simply pass through the
intended reflector.
When light reflects off of a material with higher refractive index than the medium in which is traveling,
it undergoes a 180° phase shift. In contrast, when light reflects off of a material with lower refractive
index the reflected light is in phase with the incident light. This is an important principle in the field
of thin-film optics.
Specular reflection forms images. Reflection from a flat surface forms a mirror image, which appears
to be reversed from left to right because we compare the image we see to what we would see if we
were rotated into the position of the image. Specular reflection at a curved surface forms an image
which may be magnified or demagnified; curved mirrors have optical power. Such mirrors may have
surfaces that are spherical or parabolic.
Refraction of light at the interface between two media.
Laws of reflection
An example of the law of reflection
Main article: Specular 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:
1. The incident ray, the reflected ray and the normal to the reflection surface at the point of the
incidence lie in the same plane.
2. The angle which the incident ray makes with the normal is equal to the angle which the
reflected ray makes to the same normal.
3. 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.
Mechanism
0:07
2D simulation: reflection of a quantum particle. White blur represents the probability distribution of finding a
particle in a given place if measured.
In classical electrodynamics, light is considered as an electromagnetic wave, which is described

by Maxwell's equations. Light waves incident on a material induce small oscillations of polarisation in
the individual atoms (or oscillation of electrons, in metals), causing each particle to radiate a small
secondary wave in all directions, like a dipole antenna. All these waves add up to give specular
reflection and refraction, according to the Huygens–Fresnel principle.
In the case of dielectrics such as glass, the electric field of the light acts on the electrons in the
material, and the moving electrons generate fields and become new radiators. The refracted light in
the glass is the combination of the forward radiation of the electrons and the incident light. The
reflected light is the combination of the backward radiation of all of the electrons.
In metals, electrons with no binding energy are called free electrons. When these electrons oscillate
with the incident light, the phase difference between their radiation field and the incident field is π
(180°), so the forward radiation cancels the incident light, and backward radiation is just the reflected
light.
Light–matter interaction in terms of photons is a topic of quantum electrodynamics, and is described
in detail by Richard Feynman in his popular book QED: The Strange Theory of Light and Matter.

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Reflection (physics)

Reflection is the change in direction of a wavefront at an interface between two different media so

Diagram of specular reflection

Refraction of light at the interface between two media.

An example of the law of reflection

Main article: Specular reflection

In classical electrodynamics, light is considered as an electromagnetic wave, which is described

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