The primary difference between reflected light and refracted light lies in how light interacts with a surface or medium: reflected light bounces off a surface, while refracted light bends as it passes through different materials.
Understanding the behaviors of light – reflection and refraction – helps explain many everyday phenomena, from seeing your image in a mirror to why a spoon appears bent in a glass of water.
Understanding Reflected Light
Reflection is the bouncing back of light when it strikes a smooth surface. This phenomenon occurs when light waves hit a boundary between two different media and do not pass through, but instead return into the medium they originated from. The reference states it generally occurs on shinny surfaces that only allow rebounding of light without permitting penetration through it.
Key aspects of reflection:
- Action: Light bounces back.
- Surface Interaction: Occurs at the surface of an object, particularly smooth and shiny ones.
- Medium: Light remains in the same medium.
- Principle: Follows the law of reflection (angle of incidence equals angle of reflection).
Examples of Reflection:
- Seeing your image in a mirror.
- Light bouncing off a polished metal surface.
- The reflection of the sky on a calm lake surface.
Understanding Refracted Light
Refraction is the bending of light rays when it travels from one medium to another. This bending happens because light changes speed as it moves from one substance (like air) into another (like water or glass).
Key aspects of refraction:
- Action: Light bends.
- Medium Interaction: Occurs when light passes from one medium to another.
- Medium: Light travels into a different medium.
- Principle: Governed by Snell's Law, which relates the angles of incidence and refraction to the refractive indices of the two media.
Examples of Refraction:
- A straw appearing bent when placed in a glass of water.
- How lenses (in glasses, cameras, or telescopes) focus light.
- The formation of rainbows (light bending and splitting as it passes through raindrops).
- The apparent shallowing of water bodies when viewed from above.
Key Differences at a Glance
Here's a table summarizing the core differences between reflected and refracted light:
| Feature | Reflected Light | Refracted Light |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Bouncing back of light | Bending of light rays |
| Interaction | Strikes a surface | Travels from one medium to another |
| Path | Returns to the original medium | Enters a new medium |
| Surface Type | Smooth, shiny surfaces (often opaque) | Transparent or translucent media interface |
| Speed | Speed of light generally remains constant | Speed of light changes |
In essence, reflection is a boundary phenomenon where light is repelled, while refraction is a transmission phenomenon where light is altered as it crosses a boundary.
