Physics · Light
Reflection of Light in a Plane Mirror
When light hits a smooth, shiny surface it bounces off. This is reflection.
- Angle of incidence (i)
- 35°
- Angle of reflection (r)
- 35°
Try this
- Set the angle of incidence to 30°. What is the angle of reflection?
- What happens at 0°?
- Try angles close to 90°.
Key ideas
- Angle of incidence = angle of reflection.
- Both angles are measured from the normal (the line at 90° to the mirror).
- The incident ray, the reflected ray and the normal lie in the same plane.