Why we see images in mirrors

1
Why we see images in mirrors

• Or The angle of reflection is equal to the angle
  of incidence

2
(No Transcript)
3
Reflections

• What do you see when you look in a mirror or
  other highly reflective surface?

4
(No Transcript)
5
(No Transcript)
6
Reflections

• Why are you able to see yourself in a mirror but
  not a sheet of white paper?
• You need a VERY smooth flat surface to reflect
  back an almost exact image!

7
Reflection

• Reflection from a plane (flat) mirror

Normal
Incident ray
Reflected ray
r
i
Mirror
(medium)
8
Reflections

• Rough surfaces create many incident rays that
  scatter light because there are many angles of
  reflection even though the angles of incidence
  are the same

9
Smooth surfaces send reflected rays in the same
direction
10
Paper surface magnified 830x
11
Smooth surfaces send reflected rays in the same
direction
Rough surfaces send reflected rays in many
directions
12
Law of Reflection

• The angle of incidence (i) is always equal to the
  angle of reflection (r)
• The reflected ray and the incident ray are on
  opposite sides of the normal
• The incident ray, the normal and the reflected
  ray lie on the same plane (flat surface)

13
(No Transcript)
14
(No Transcript)
15
Using mirrors

• Two examples

2) A car headlight
1) A periscope
16
(No Transcript)
17
(No Transcript)
18
(No Transcript)
19
(No Transcript)
20
(No Transcript)
21
(No Transcript)
22
(No Transcript)