Reflection from Surfaces Flashcards

All 5 cards in this deck

What name is given to reflection from a smooth surface in a single direction?

Specular reflection.

What name is given to reflection from a rough surface, which causes scattering?

Diffuse reflection.

Which type of reflection produces a clear image, and why?

Specular reflection — the smooth surface reflects the light in a single direction.

True or false? In diffuse reflection the law of reflection is not obeyed.

False. Each ray still reflects with angle of reflection equal to angle of incidence, but the rough surface points the normals in different directions, so light is scattered.

True or false? A sheet of white paper reflects light diffusely because its surface is rough.

True. The rough surface scatters the light in all directions.