| The Law of Reflection |
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If a ray of light could be observed approaching and reflecting off of a flat mirror, then the behavior of the light as it reflects would follow a predictable law known as the law of reflection. |
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The diagram below illustrates the law of reflection. |
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In the diagram given above, the ray of light approaching the mirror is known as the incident ray (labeled I in the diagram). The ray of light which leaves the mirror is known as the reflected ray (labeled R in the diagram). At the point of incidence where the ray strikes the mirror, a line can be drawn perpendicular to the surface of the mirror. This line is known as a normal line (labeled N in the diagram).
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The normal line divides the angle between the incident ray and the reflected ray into two equal angles. The angle between the incident ray and the normal is known as the angle of incidence. The angle between the reflected ray and the normal is known as the angle of reflection.
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The law of reflection states that when a ray of light reflects off a surface, the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.
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