What is meant by ‘reflection of light’? Define the following terms used in the study of reflection of light by drawing a labelled ray diagram:
(a) Incident ray
(b) Point of incidence
(c) Normal
(d) Reflected ray
(e) Angle of incidence
(f) Angle of reflection
The process of sending back the light rays which fall on the surface of an object is called reflection of light.
(a) Incident ray: The ray of light that falls on the mirror surface is called the incident ray.
(b) Point of incidence: The point at which the incident ray falls on the mirror is called the point of incidence.
(c) Normal: The normal is a line at right angle to the mirror surface at the point of incidence.
(d) Reflected ray: The ray of light which is sent back by the mirror is called the reflected rays.
(e) Angle of incidence: The angle of incidence is the angle made by the incident ray with the normal at the point of incidence.
(f) Angle of reflection: The angle of reflection is the angle made by the reflected ray with the normal at the point of incidence.