reflection

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Reflection of light

$Figure 7: The refraction and reflection of light. (Left) When light strikes the boundary between glass and air at less than the critical angle (θc), it is refracted and partially reflected; (centre) when it meets the boundary at the critical angle, it is refracted parallel to the boundary; (right) when it meets the boundary at more than the critical angle, it is reflected totally.$

diffuse reflection of light

Figure 5: Malus' experiment. Successive reflections at two unsilvered mirror surfaces, G1 and G2 (see text).

reflection of light in a mirror

Read Next

Infinite space background with silhouette of telescope. This image elements furnished by NASA.

Telescopes: Seeing Stars

Galaxy clusters like Abell 2744 can act as a natural cosmic lens, magnifying light from more distant, background objects through gravity. NASA's James Webb Space Telescope may be able to detect light from the first stars in the universe if they are gravitationally lensed by such clusters. (astronomy, space exploration, galaxies)

How Fast Is the Universe Expanding?

Above the clouds 130 nautical miles below, astronaut Mark C. Lee floats freely without tethers as he tests the new Simplified Aid for Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Spacewalk Rescue (SAFER) system, Sept. 16, 1994. Space Shuttle Discovery, STS-64

Gravity: From Apples to the Universe

Discover

Currency. Money. Cash. Dollars. Bills. Pile of ten, twenty, fifty, and hundred dollar bills.

6 Questions About the History of Money and Banking Answered

Lusitania sinking, illustration from The War of the Nations (New York), December 31, 1919. World War I, WWI. This image is one of three on the page. (See source file for the other two.)

7 of the World’s Deadliest Shipwrecks

King Cobra snake in Malaysia. (reptile)

9 of the World’s Deadliest Snakes

Shah Jahan. Taj Mahal. Mughal architecture. Emperor Shah Jahan fifth Mughal Emperor (reigned 1628-1658) India, Himachal Pradesh, Basohli or Jammu and Kashmir, Mankot, circa 1690 Drawings; Opaque watercolor, gold, and ink on paper (see notes)

6 Important Mughal Emperors

Groups of depositors in front of the closed American Union Bank, New York City. April 26, 1932. Great Depression run on bank crowd

Causes of the Great Depression

Battle of the Alamo from "Texas: An Epitome of Texas History from the Filibustering and Revolutionary Eras to the Independence of the Republic, 1897. Texas Revolution, Texas revolt, Texas independence, Texas history.

6 Wars of Independence

Titanic infographic. The 30th anniversary of its discovery is September 1, 2015. SPOTLIGHT VERSION.

Timeline of the Titanic’s Final Hours

reflection: Related Content

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Photos

Reflection of light

$Figure 7: The refraction and reflection of light. (Left) When light strikes the boundary between glass and air at less than the critical angle (θc), it is refracted and partially reflected; (centre) when it meets the boundary at the critical angle, it is refracted parallel to the boundary; (right) when it meets the boundary at more than the critical angle, it is reflected totally.$

diffuse reflection of light

Figure 5: Malus' experiment. Successive reflections at two unsilvered mirror surfaces, G1 and G2 (see text).

reflection of light in a mirror

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Topics

albedo halo total internal reflection Cellini’s halo law of reflection echo angle of reflection How Do Mirrors Work?critical angle normal albedo chemical bonding nuclear fission catalysis nuclear fusion deformation and flow friction work absorption adsorption dispersion

Key People

Understanding Newton's theory of universal gravitation

Isaac Newton

English physicist and mathematician

James Gregory.

James Gregory

Scottish mathematician and astronomer

Quiz

Italian physicist Guglielmo Marconi at work in the wireless room of his yacht Electra, c. 1920.

All About Physics Quiz