Light Reflection & Refraction

• The angle of incidence is the angle between the incident (incoming) light ray and the normal.
• The normal is a line at 90 degrees to the plane.

• The angle of reflection is the angle between the reflected light ray and the normal.

• The law of reflection states that the angle of incidence = the angle of reflection.

• If light slows down as it enters a new medium, this medium is “more optically dense”.
• When light enters a more optically dense medium, it is refracted closer to the normal.
• This means that the angle of refraction is smaller than the angle of incidence.

• If light speeds up on entering a new medium, this medium is “less optically dense”.
• The light is refracted further from the normal - the angle of refraction is larger than the angle of incidence.

When light enters a more optically dense medium, it is refracted closer to the normal and the angle of refraction is smaller.

When light travels from one medium and to a less optically dense medium, it is refracted further away from the normal and the angle of refraction is larger.