Reflection of Light
Light - Shadows and Refraction of Class 6
Reflection of Light
We all know that a rubber ball bounces when it is thrown on the floor. Similarly, when light falls, on a smooth polished surface, it bounced back. This bouncing back of light is called reflection of light.
If you look at a minor you see yourself have you ever wondered how you are able to see yourself in the mirror? The phenomenon by which you are able to see yourself in the mirror is again reflection.
When light hits a shiny opaque’s surface, it is reflected or bounced off. A ray of light that hits the mirror bounces back and travels to our eyes, enabling us to see the object in the mirror.
Regular and irregular (or Diffused) Reflection
Regular reflection is produced by a smooth and wall polished surface like a plane mirror. When a parallel beam of light falls on a smooth surface, the reflected rays are received by the eye and produce a strong glare.
Irregular of diffused reflection is produced by the surface of ordinary dull objects, such as the surface of a wall. When a parallel beam of light falls on such a surface, different rays are reflected in different directions, i.e. they get diffused. This type of irregular or different rays are reflected is very useful to us as it enables us to see the various objects around us without glare.
Mirror Images:
When you look into the mirror you cannot see yourself as other see you
Lateral symmetry in the mirror: When we look in to a mirror, there is often confused in relation to left and right. But there may be a difference in the pattern of dress hair style etc.
Uses of Plane Mirrors:
Plane mirrors are used in a number of instruments; for example, in a periscope, a kaleidoscope, etc. The periscope is made by the taking a long metal or cardboard tube bent twice at right angles. Two plane mirrors are fixed at the two bends of the tube parallel to each other and inclined at 45° to the axis of the tube.
The kaleidoscope is a toy used for producing beautiful coloured patterns. It is made by taking three mirror strips and joining them to form a triangle. A piece of cardboard is wrapped round the mirrors. On one side of the tube so formed, we place pieces of glasses of different colours between two transparent sheets. The other side is closed with a plane transparent sheet. On looking from this end and rotating the kaleidoscope tube, we see beautiful, fascinating coloured patterns.
