The amount of light reflected by an object, and how it is reflected, is highly dependent upon the degree of smoothness or texture of the surface.

The reflected light produces a mirror image. Regardless of whether light is acting as particles or waves, the result of reflection is the same. Because the particles are so small, they travel very close together (virtually side by side) and bounce from different points, so their order is reversed by the reflection process, producing a mirror image. The best surfaces for reflecting light are very smooth, such as a glass mirror or polished metal, although almost all surfaces will reflect light to some degree.Īccording to particle theory, which differs in some important details from the wave concept, light arrives at the mirror in the form of a stream of tiny particles, termed photons, which bounce away from the surface upon impact. It is important to note that the light is not separated into its component colors because it is not being “bent” or refracted, and all wavelengths are being reflected at equal angles.

This concept is often termed the Law of Reflection. Thus, the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection for visible light as well as for all other wavelengths of the electromagnetic radiation spectrum. Visible white light that is directed onto the surface of a mirror at an angle (incident) is reflected back into space by the mirror surface at another angle (reflected) that is equal to the incident angle, as presented for the action of a beam of light from a flashlight on a smooth, flat mirror in Figure 2. The incoming light wave is referred to as an incident wave, and the wave that is bounced away from the surface is termed the reflected wave. However, it wasn’t until a millennium and a half later that the Arab scientist Alhazen proposed a law describing exactly what happens to a light ray when it strikes a smooth surface and then bounces off into space. Send us feedback about these examples.Some of the earliest accounts of light reflection originate from the ancient Greek mathematician Euclid, who conducted a series of experiments around 300 BC, and appears to have had a good understanding of how light is reflected. These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'reflection.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. 2023 In my view, there are more than enough problems and deadly conflicts in the world whose solutions merit the award of the Nobel Peace Prize as a reflection of its original intent – to acknowledge attempts aimed at ending the scourge of war and building a sustainable peace. 2023 Well, Here Lies Love wasn’t crafted as a reflection of current times. 2023 The company also plans to use steering and maneuvering capabilities to orient the solar array and spacecraft to minimize reflection from surfaces, according to that statement. Howard Lafranchi, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 Oct. 2023 Championing the effort to stop all aid is a growing minority of Republicans in the House of Representatives that rejects any additional assistance, decrying it as more reckless spending and a reflection of an outdated globalist foreign policy that fails to put America first. 2023 Perhaps that's tied up in those feelings of ineffectiveness, or waiting to see what happens next, or maybe a just reflection on the long-standing negativity toward the parties more generally. 2023 Of those who did the reflection exercise, 13.7% landed a job, compared to just 6.2% of control group members. 2023 In the United States, where gun violence has soared since the pandemic began, Jaden’s experience is one shared by students of every age in every state throughout the school year - a bleak reflection of a society awash in firearms. Sandra Rose Salathe, Peoplemag, 11 Oct. Recent Examples on the Web The 77-year-old actress shared her reflections on the importance of taking care of yourself in an Instagram post on Oct.

On reflection