Reflection of Light and Plane Mirrors

Reflection of Light and Plane
Mirrors
Light travels in a straight line, specifically in a vacuum. It has
several behaviors and is usually influenced by the medium it
will propagate through, or bounce off of.
What property of light enables it to
bounce off a medium? How does light
bounce off a medium?
In this lesson, you will learn about reflection, the types of reflection, and the characteristics
of the images formed by a plane mirror.
AIRPLANE MIRRORS
In this activity, you will observe how a plane mirror creates an

image.
Observe the image of the toy airplane from the plane mirror.
Take note of its characteristics such as its height, width, and
other physical characteristics. Answer the questions that
follow.
REPRESENTING LIGHT RAYS
• Light ordinarily travels in straight line path called ray.

• In order to represent light, rays are used.
• Rays are lines with an arrow head at its end.
• The arrow head tells the direction where the light ray is
going.
Fermat’s Principle of Least Time
• The idea that the path which light travels is the one that
uses the shortest time is called Fermat’s principle of least
time.
• This means that in order for light to go from one point to
another, it takes the shortest and most efficient path
available to it.
Fermat’s Principle of Least Time
Light takes the shortest path possible.

Steps in Determining the Least Time Path
1. Draw the object and the observer.

2. Measure the distance of the object to the mirror.
3. Transfer the distance to the other side of the mirror. Call
this as the ‘image’.
4. Connect the image and the observer.
5. The segment which will form is the least path.
Reflection of Light
Reflection of light is the bouncing off of light rays from an
object.
Terminologies for Reflection
1. Normal line– imaginary line perpendicular to the surface.
2. The angle of incidence (𝜃i)– is the angle which an incident
ray makes with normal line.
3. The angle of reflection (𝜃r)– is the angle which the
reflected ray makes with the normal.
Reflection of Light
The angle of incidence and the angle of reflection is

always measured from the normal line.
The Law of Reflection
• The law of reflection states that the incident and reflected
rays lie in the same plane with the normal and that the
angle of reflection equals the angle of incidence, 𝜃i = 𝜃r.
The Law of Reflection
The law of reflection which states that the angle of incidence is

always equal to the angle of reflection.
Types of Reflection
1. Diffuse Reflection
2. Specular Reflection
Diffuse Reflection
• Diffuse reflection happens when light is reflected into
multiple directions.
• This is true when light hits a rough surface.
Diffuse Reflection
● Objects that might
appear smooth to
touch but still
performs diffuse
reflection are
actually
microscopically
rough. e.g. eggshell
Specular Reflection
• Specular reflection happens when light is reflected at only
one path.
• This is true when light hits a smooth surface.
• Microscopically smooth surface are good reflectors of light.
e.g. mirrors
Specular Reflection
Plane Mirrors
• A plane mirror is a smooth, flat reflecting surface.
• It creates images that are located on the same distance as
the object from the mirror and with the same height but
are inverted from left to right.
When distinguishing between the types of reflection, simply
remember that specular reflection usually happens in smooth
surfaces, whereas diffuse reflection occurs in rough surfaces.
● Light travels in straight-line paths called rays and in a
path that uses the shortest time, which is an idea of
Fermat’s principle of least time.
● The law of reflection states that the incident and

reflected rays lie in the same plane with the normal and
that the angle of reflection equals the angle of incidence.
● Diffuse reflection happens when light is reflected in
multiple directions, while specular reflection happens
when light hits a microscopically smooth mirror.
● A plane mirror is a smooth, flat reflecting surface. Images

formed by this mirror are virtual images.
Identify what is being described by each of the
given statements.
1. It is the type of reflection that happens when light is
reflected into multiple directions.
2. It is a study dealing with the path of light as it strikes a
medium which involves straight-line rays at various angles.
3. It is the idea or principle that tells that the path which light
travels is the one that uses the shortest time.

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Reflection of Light and Plane

In this activity, you will observe how a plane mirror creates an

• Light ordinarily travels in straight line path called ray.

Light takes the shortest path possible.

1. Draw the object and the observer.

The angle of incidence and the angle of reflection is

The law of reflection which states that the angle of incidence is

● The law of reflection states that the incident and

● A plane mirror is a smooth, flat reflecting surface. Images

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