Reflection (physics)

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/reflection-physics

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the key contributors?Euclid, Willebrord Snellius, René Descartes, Isaac Newton, Augustin-Jean Fresnel
2. What is the primary applications?Vision, telescopes, microscopes, fiber optics, lasers, automotive safety, solar energy
3. Why can I see myself in a mirror?A mirror is a smooth, polished surface that reflects light in a straight, orderly way. The light from your face bounces off the mirror and travels back to your eyes, so you see your reflection.
4. What is specular reflection?Specular reflection happens when light hits a very smooth surface, like a mirror or still water. The light rays bounce off in the same direction, keeping the image clear.

Normal: An imaginary line perpendicular to a surface at the point where a light ray strikes.
Angle of Incidence: The angle between an incoming light ray and the normal to the surface.
Angle of Reflection: The angle between the reflected light ray and the normal to the surface.
Total Internal Reflection: When light traveling from a denser to a less dense medium is completely reflected back.