8 most common examples of reflection of light in daily life
Introduction
Reflection of light is the phenomenon of natural that plays with the behaviour of light. In the further of the post we will discuss about reflection and some common examples of reflection of light in more depth ways. But before we procced we have to first know a little about reflection and how it happens in any surface weather it is rough, smooth, and curve. So let's start with what is reflection.
What is reflection of light?
Reflection is the natural phenomenon of light that seperate the light waves to go through a straight line. Means it is due to the reflection that a beam of light changes its path.
In other words the bouncing back of light wave in the same medium when strikes with any surfaces weather it is plane, curve or rough.
For example, you can see in the above fig. That a tree get reflection in water. It is happens as follows: when the rays of light falls on the tree then tree becomes luminous object and a luminous object easily get reflected in a smooth surface. Here the smooth surface is water. That's why a virtual image of tree formed in the water.
Luminous object is that object which has its own light. Means the object should be glowing or have some light in itself.
To understand the reflection of light in more detail lets see the another definition.
When a source or an object emitting the rays of light and if these rays of light get touched with any regular or irregular surface then the rays of light get bounced back and spread in all directions. Some of rays get back on its initial path, some are get diffused, some are followed the laws of reflection.
In the above definition of reflection of light. We have used many terms like regular, irregular, diffusion, and laws of reflection. So what was that terms means. because examples of reflection will not be understand if the concept of these terms will not clear. So before we start examples of reflection let's understand all the above terms one by one.
Types of reflection of light
There are many types of reflection of light in daily life. But we discuss only most common and relevant types that is,
- Regular reflection of light
- Irregular or diffusion of light
- Multiple reflection of light.
1. Regular reflection of light
If the rays of light fall on a smooth surface and light waves get reflected in only one direction then it will be the regular reflection of light.
Regular reflection of light can also be defined as the light waves falls on a polished surface and get reflected in such a way that all the light waves will be parallel to each other.
2. Irregular or diffuse reflection of light
If a ray of light falls on a rough surface then after reflection light waves get diffuse in all directions.
Irregular reflection of light can also be defined as when teh rays of light fall on a surface that is not polished then after reflection it will bounce back in the same medium but not each rays will be parallel to each other.
In the above fig. We can see there are some rays of light coming from medium 1 and falls on a rough surface. After reflection all the light waves get diffused in all directions.
But how did I know this is regular reflection not irregular or diffuse reflection of light. So the main difference between regular reflection and irregular reflection is that as we know when regular reflection occurs then all rays of light become parallel to each other after reflection. But when irregular or diffuse reflection of light occurs then all rays of light will not be parallel to each other.
3. Multiple reflection of light
When a rays of light fall on a surface weather it is rough or polished and the surface are placed with many other polished or rough surfaces in such a way that after reflection of light from one surface the reflected rays fall on the other surface and again reflected rays of second surface falls on the third surface and so on. Then these types of reflection is called multiple reflection of light.
In short way multiple reflection of light can be defined as when a ray of light falls on surface1 and after reflection the reflected ray of surface1 falls on a surface 2 and so on. Then these types of reflection called multiple reflection of light.
See the below fig. to understand the multiple reflection of light.
In the above fig. We can see there are two surfaces named first reflection and second reflection. When a ray of light incident on the first surface it get reflected and falls on the second surface. Now the reflected ray which is falls on the second surface becomes a incident ray of second surface. So that after reflection from second surface it will again become reflected ray.
You can see the examples of multiple reflection of light in your daily life. Like if you placed a two mirror in such a way that if we bring an object between them then the image will formed in both the mirror. The best example is the mirror placed in hair cut store 'salon'.
Laws of reflection of light
We have understood the phenomena of refraction of light. Now we will try to understand how reflection occurs. Why we said that light get reflected? So to answer all of these questions. We have to first know the laws of reflection of light.
There are two laws of reflection of light.
- The incidents rays, the reflected rays, the normal and the point of incidence are always lies on the same plane.
- The angle of incidence is always equal to the angle of reflection.
1. First laws states that if some rays of light falls in a smooth surface and get reflected in the same medium. First laws said that the incidents rays, the reflected rays, the normal and point of incidence are all lies on that smooth surface.
2. Second laws state that when incident rays falls on a plane surface and get reflected then the angle made by incident rays with normal is equal to the angle made by reflected rays with normal.
Please note that:- The incident rays makes ∠i and the reflected rays makes ∠r. So that ∠i = ∠r.
Now, after knowing some useful concepts of reflection of light. Its time to go through examples.
Examples of reflection of light
9 most commonly seen examples of reflection of light in daily life with naked eyes.
- Reflection of light in mirror.
- Reflection of light in spherical mirror.
- Reflection of light in water pool.
- Reflection of light on polished surface.
- Object seen due to reflection of light.
- Glowing of stars.
- Lighting of moon at night.
- Reflection from luminous object.
- Reflection from non-luminous objects.
Let's discuss all of the above examples of reflection of light which we can observe in our day to day life.
1. Reflection of light in mirror.
Reflection of light in mirror is the best example of reflection of light. In plane polished surface of the mirror glass the light wave reflect so well that it follows both the laws of reflection of light.
In plane mirror, regular reflection takes place. Because the particles present on the surface of the plane mirror are faced in only one direction. That's why a plane mirror shows a regular reflection of light.
But if you talk about the rough surface. The particles on the surface of the rough part are faced in many directions. That's why irregular reflection of light takes place in rough surface.
If you see the surface of the plane mirror through a microscope then you will find that the particles are faced in only one direction.
Now, let's know how a plane mirror reflects all the rays in only one directions.
So the answer is, when a beam of light falls on a smooth surface like the surface of the plane mirror. Then due to the particles faced in one particular directions, all the light waves get reflected on that direction.
See the given below fig. to learn how a plane mirror shows regular reflection of light.
In the above fig. An incident rays falls on the surface of a plane mirror and reflect. Reflection takes place in such a way that, incident rays and reflected rays makes angle of incidence and angle of reflection respectively.
Both angle of incidence and angle of reflection are equal. Because it follows the laws of reflection of light. See fig.
2. Reflection of light in spherical mirror.
After the discussion of reflection of light in plane mirror. Its time to take some knowledge about reflection in spherical mirror.
If we talk about spherical mirror. Then it is a part of a complete sphere. In simple words take a spherical ball and cut it into two pieces equally. The each cut part is like a spherical mirror.
Inner part of the cutted spherical ball is called concave. And outer surface of the cutted spherical ball called convex.
Here we will learn both, reflection in concave and reflection in convex.
Reflection of light in spherical mirror is same as in plane mirror. But it is not that simple. To understand the reflection in spherical mirror. We have to learn reflection in concave and convex mirror.
Reflection in concave mirror
As we discussed just now that reflection of light in concave mirror is same as reflection of light in plane mirror.
In a concave mirror, reflection can takes place in any part of the mirror. But it should be from inside. Because concave mirror is polished from outside. See the given fig.
In concave mirror a regular reflection of light takes place only when if it follows certain conditions. These are some conditions which must have to follow for regular reflection in concave mirror.
- If the light waves are parallel to the principal axis then it the reflected rays will pass through the focus point (F).
- If light waves passes through the focus then the reflected rays become parallel to the principal axis.
- If the incident rays are align with the principal axis then reflected rays will returns to the same path.
As you can see in the above fig. that there are two light waves on upper side of the principal axis and two in the downward direction. All of them strikes with the inner part of the concave mirror. And after the reflection all the waves passed through the focus point. because it follows the laws of reflection of light.
Reflection in convex mirror
In convex mirror, the light waves are are also get reflected and follows the laws of reflection of light. But the reflection takes places from the outside of the mirror. Because in convex mirror, inner side is polished and outer side is shiny. That's why reflection takes place from outside.
In a convex mirror, reflection can takes place in any part of the mirror. But it should be from outside. Because convex mirror is polished from outside. See the given fig.
In convex mirror also a regular reflection of light takes place only when if it follows certain conditions. These are some conditions which must have to follow for regular reflection in convex mirror.
- If the light waves are parallel to the principal axis then it the reflected rays will pass through the focus point (F).
- If light waves passes through the focus then the reflected rays become parallel to the principal axis.
- If the incident rays are align with the principal axis then reflected rays will returns to the same path.
As you can see in the above fig. that there are two light waves on upper side of the principal axis and two in the downward direction. All of them strikes with the inner part of the convex mirror. And after the reflection all the waves passed through the focus point. because it follows the laws of reflection of light.
3. Reflection of light in water pool.
Reflection can also takes place in water. If you observed that, if anyone see into the water. Then an image of that object or person get virtual into the surface of the water. How this happens?
As we know reflection can takes place on both the surface. Weather it is regular or irregular. A water surface is quite regular so that when the rays of light falls on the surface of the water then some of the rays follows laws of reflection and some are not.
4. Reflection of light on polished surface.
As we know that reflection on the surface of the mirror is the best example of reflection of light. Because a mirror surface is also polished.
So on any highly polished surface, reflection can easily takes place. The best example of reflection of light on polished surface will be , reflection in stainless steel.
In vessels or stainless steel, reflection takes place. Because stainless steel has also a polished surface.
5. Object seen due to reflection.
Do you know, why we can see the objects in our surroundings? Why you are able to read this article.
The answers are due to reflection of light. But how? Let's understand.
When an object placed in the light room or to any other sources of light then it emit some source of light from itself and when these emitted light waves enters in our eyes. So that we are able to see the objects.
To seeing an object there one important thing is light. Without light it is not possible to see an object through our neked eyes.
How reflection is responsible for seeing an object?
Let suppose an object is placed in the dark room. Where there is no any sources of light.
Now placed a light bulb 💡 in the room. Now you can see the object very easily. But how this happens? This happens due to the reflection of light through object. Explain.
When you being a light source closer to the object. And we know that a glowing bulb emit a tons of light rays.
And when these light wave get reflected from the objects placed on that room and when that reflected rays enters in our eyes, it forms a virtual and inverted image in the retina.
After that mind correct that image and recognise. That's why we are able to see the objects in our surroundings.
6. Glowing of stars.
At night, sky are full of stars. Some of the star ⭐✨✨ glow brightly and some are not. But have you ever think why these stars are always seen glowing?
Starts glow because it is luminous object. But is that's it. Is this answer ok? No my dear friends. No way.
Starts are glowing because of their own light emitting from itself. But how we able to see it?
The answer is just because of the reflection of light emitted from stars. Learn how?
The glowing stars are always emitting light waves. And when these light waves travel through space and come near the earth's surface. Then it strikes with the atmosphere of the earth and at that time some of the light waves get returns into the space. But some are reflected towards the centre of the earth.
That's the reason we can see the glowing stars even it is far from us.
7. Lighting of moon at night.
Lighting of moon is also an example of reflection of light. Moon is lighting not because of it has own light. It is glowing because it reflects the light waves coming from the sun.
As we know moon is non-luminous objects. Perhaps it is glowing due to reflection of light.
Reflection takes place on the surface of the moon. And due to the irregular surface, when Sun light touches it's ground, the light waves get diffuse and some of the light enters on the earth through atmosphere.
8. Reflection from luminous objects.
Luminous object emit light waves from itself. And when these light waves collide with any other objects or non-luminous objects. Then it makes us to see that non-luminous objects.
So due to the reflection or we can say, with the help of reflection phenomenon a non-luminous objects can be seen.
In other words, due to reflection of light a non-luminous objects becomes luminous object and can emit light waves.
9. Reflection from non-luminous objects.
As we just discussed above that a reflection of light makes a non-luminous objects into a luminous object.
So it is also clear that non-luminous objects emit light due to reflection and make things visible.
Now let's understand how reflection is the main phenomenon to being conversion from luminous to non luminous objects.
For example let us supposed we can see an object that has no light on their own. Let say moon. But can we see it. Because of the reflection of sunlight from the moon to our eye.
This happen as follows : first light wave emitting from sun (the ultimate source of light) falls on the surface of the moon. After that the reflected rays enter into our eye ball. So that we can see moon.
Application of reflection of light.
These are the some applications of reflection of light.
- Microscope works on the application of reflection of light. Because in microscope there are some small mirror piece used to see the objects.
- Kaleidoscope also works on the principal of reflection of light.
- The best application of reflection of light is the working of telescope. In inside of the telescope reflection takes place.
- In cars side mirror.
Hope you enjoyed. Please comment if you have any doubt.
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