The law of reflection is quite useful for mirrors and other flat, shiny surfaces. (This sort of reflection is called specular reflection). However, you've likely been told that when you look at something, you are seeing light reflected from the object that you are looking at. This is reflection of a different sort: diffuse reflection. In this problem, you will see how diffuse reflection actually llected from the object that you are looking at. This is eflection of a different sort: diffuse reflection. In this roblem, you will see how diffuse reflection actually rises from the same law of reflection that you are ccustomed to for reflections from mirrors. This simple rule of reflection no longer seems to hold for diffuse reflect now reflecting from the surface of a table (Figure 2). Unlike the light reflected from the table seems to go in all directions. If it didn't, then you were at a specific angle to the lights above you! To understand why the light reflects in all directions, you must first look at a slightly simpler problem. Consider a flat surface, inclined downward from the horizontal by an angle a (Figure 3). The red line represents the surface and the red dotted line indicates the normal to this surface (the normal line). The two blue dashed lines represent horizontal and vertical. The angle between the incoming ray and the vertical is 8. Throughout this problem, assume that , is larger than or but smaller than 2a. (If you wish, you can determine the correct sign rules to generalize your results later.) Part B sider the same spotlight but om the mirror, the light only be able to see tables when Find the angle , between the reflected ray and the vertical.
The law of reflection is quite useful for mirrors and other flat, shiny surfaces. (This sort of reflection is called specular reflection). However, you've likely been told that when you look at something, you are seeing light reflected from the object that you are looking at. This is reflection of a different sort: diffuse reflection. In this problem, you will see how diffuse reflection actually llected from the object that you are looking at. This is eflection of a different sort: diffuse reflection. In this roblem, you will see how diffuse reflection actually rises from the same law of reflection that you are ccustomed to for reflections from mirrors. This simple rule of reflection no longer seems to hold for diffuse reflect now reflecting from the surface of a table (Figure 2). Unlike the light reflected from the table seems to go in all directions. If it didn't, then you were at a specific angle to the lights above you! To understand why the light reflects in all directions, you must first look at a slightly simpler problem. Consider a flat surface, inclined downward from the horizontal by an angle a (Figure 3). The red line represents the surface and the red dotted line indicates the normal to this surface (the normal line). The two blue dashed lines represent horizontal and vertical. The angle between the incoming ray and the vertical is 8. Throughout this problem, assume that , is larger than or but smaller than 2a. (If you wish, you can determine the correct sign rules to generalize your results later.) Part B sider the same spotlight but om the mirror, the light only be able to see tables when Find the angle , between the reflected ray and the vertical.
Related questions
Question
Expert Solution
This question has been solved!
Explore an expertly crafted, step-by-step solution for a thorough understanding of key concepts.
This is a popular solution!
Trending now
This is a popular solution!
Step by step
Solved in 2 steps with 1 images