reflection of wave

Light can bounce off surfaces {reflection, light}|, as surface molecules absorb and re-emit light. Reflections are like elastic collisions. Plane mirrors and wave tanks show reflections.

wavefront

Wavefronts are moving space disturbances. Behind wavefronts, all wavelets cancel each other, because wavelets have random phases. Beyond wavefronts, nothing has reached yet. Wavefronts are moving edges. Wavefront oscillation and movement carry energy. At surfaces, wavefronts re-radiate.

angles

Reflection angle equals incidence angle. Because light travels straight, light has no sideways motion components, and light plane stays the same. Angles are the same, because light effects are symmetric.

images

Images from flat mirrors appear to be behind mirror and so are virtual images. Images appear at same distance from mirror as distance that objects are from mirror. Images have same size and orientation as objects. Reflections from flat surfaces only reverse right and left.

surfaces

Dielectrics can be mirrors.

polarization

At incidence angle 45 degrees, if reflection from plane mirror has 90-degree angle between reflected and refracted beams, light polarizes.

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Date Modified: 2022.0224