Interactions of Light With Matter Science: Chapter 3 Mrs. Milliken

Reflection is the bouncing back of light rays when they hit an object. The Law of Reflection states that an angle of incidence is EQUAL to the angle of reflection.

The Law of Reflection What makes us see our reflection?

The Law of Reflection The beam of light toward the mirror is the INCIDENT BEAM. The middle line is the NORMAL Line The beam of light away from the mirror is the REFLECTED BEAM

Regular vs. Diffuse Reflection Regular reflection occurs when a light beam is reflected at the same angle. Diffuse Reflection occurs when light beams reflect at many different angles, like when light hits a wall.

Absorption Absorption is when energy from light waves are transferred to matter. For example this causes a flashlight beam to get dimmer the farther away from the flashlight.

Scattering Scattering occurs when light energy is released from particles that have extra energy. This affects light with short wavelengths For example: This is what causes the sky to look blue.

Transmission Transmission occurs when glass or other transparent material transmits light to pass through. When light is transmitted from one material to another it changes speed and this causes the light to bend, called refraction.

Transparent, Translucent and Opaque Transparent: visible light is easily transmitted (glass). Translucent: transmits light through but scatters it (frosted window). Opaque: cannot see through the object, it will absorb and reflect light.

Colors We see colors because the wavelengths of visible light are reflected off an opaque object.