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REFLECTION OF LIGHT


When light travelling in a given medium strikes any surface, a part of the incident light bounces back into the same medium. This phenomenon is called reflection.


Light reflected from a surface


Thus in reflection, the path of light rays changes its direction without any change in the medium of light.

Reflection is of two types:
Regular reflection


When the reflecting surface is smooth and well polished, the parallel rays of light incident on it are reflected parallel in one particular direction. This is known as regular reflection.
The regular reflection gives rise to image formation.

Regular reflection


Irregular reflection
When is reflecting surface is rough, the parallel rays falling on it are reflected in different directions. Such a reflection is known as irregular reflection or diffused reflection. No clear image is formed in case of irregular reflection.

Diffused or irregular reflection