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

2. 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.

3. The Law of Reflection
What makes us see our reflection?

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

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