Hello guys, I hope you all are doing great. In today’s tutorial, we will have a look at Difference Between Reflection and Refraction. There are 2 main properties related to the propagation of light reflection and refraction. after colliding the light with different mediums comes back to the first medium, a reflection that is not happening in refraction. While in refraction light moving from one medium to another, it bends or changes direction.The straight path over which light moves is known as a ray of light and large numbers of rays in group form is called beam of light
As we know, electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength of four hundred to seventy nanometers is known as light. Our eye can easily detect this range of wavelengths. In today’s post, we will have a detailed look at reflection and refraction and compare them. So, let’s get started with the Difference Between Reflection and Refraction.
Difference Between Reflection and Refraction
Reflection
- The variation in the wavefronts when meets between two different medium and waves come back to the previous medium
- the basic example of reflection is light, water waves reflection.
- Law of reflection says the angle with which the wave collides to the material is the same to the reflected angle.
- This phenomenon called specular reflection and shown by mirror
- in the sound example of reflection is echoes and applied in sonar
- radar operation based in reflection.
- A seismic wave is an example of reflection.
- A mirror provides the most common
- It has two natures specular and diffuse.
- It occurs in electromagnetic waves.
- X rays also show reflection nature
- The speed of the reflection ray remains the same to after reflection.
- This phenomenon occurs on the shiny surface.
- Reflection has 2 types of regular and diffused reflection.
- Its propagating medium remains the same
- In the reflection angle of incidence and angle of reflection, both are similar.
- These phenomena occur usually in the mirrors.
Refraction
- Refraction is the bending of light when it moves from one medium to another.
- The variation in the direction of waves moving from the first medium to another called refraction.
- Light as well water waves also show this process.
- The change in speed and direction of a wave tells the refraction of the wave
- The refraction based on snell law in the case of light.
- That says that the angle of incidence and angle refraction ratio is equal to the speed ratio.
- sinθ1/sinθ2=n2/n1
- n2 and n1 is refractive indexes
- lens uses this process to refract light
- the change in the refractive index according to wavelength is called dispersion
- For this process path of light changes when it moves from one medium to another.
- The speed of light changes according to the medium in which light is going to be refracted.
- This phenomenon occurs on a transparent surface.
- There is one type of refraction.
- This phenomenon occurs in lenses.
- For reflection angle of incidence and angle of reflection are not similar.
Laws of Reflection
- There are 2 main laws that explain the reflection.
- First is the angle of incidence is the same to the angle of reflection.
- Second is reflected ray, incident ray and normal all exist in same plane.
Types of Reflection
- There are 2 main types of reflection. The first is a specular reflection and the second one is diffuse reflection.
Specular Reflection:
- If the reflection is occurring in such a medium that has plan surface such as a mirror is called specular reflection.
Diffuse Reflection:
- If the medium from which light is reflecting is not smooth such as paper or cloth is called diffuse reflection.
Reflection vs. Refraction
Reflection
- This process defines that light rays, when striking, then bounce back, called reflection.
- Its occurrence is when light strikes an opaque surface.
- The behavior of light in this process is such that it changes direction back towards the source.
- Its uses are in periscopes and solar reflectors that operate with the use of this phenomenon.
- There is no energy transfer to another medium in this process that can be absorbed or dispersed.
- It uses reflective surfaces for occurrences such as mirrors. It is working based on the law of reflection.
Refraction
- In this process, light rays bend when moving from one medium to another.
- It occurs when light passes through the boundary between two different transparent mediums.
- Light rays change direction when they enter different mediums.
- The angle of incidence is different from the angle of refraction in this process.
- It is applied in prisms, eyeglasses, etc.
- In this process, energy was transferred to a new medium with a change in speed and wavelength.
- Light goes to a new medium that causes dispersion and also changes speed and wavelength.
- This process occurs for surfaces where there is a change in the refractive index.
- It follows the laws of refraction, primarily Snell’s Law.
Read also
- RS232 vs DB9: Differences, Features & Uses
- Car Suspension Parts: Types, Working and Features
- What Is Locknut? working features, types, uses
That all about Difference Between Reflection and Refraction if you have any query ask in comments. Thanks for reading. have a good day.
