All Flashcards
What is the effect of light hitting a smooth, polished surface?
Specular reflection occurs, creating a clear, undistorted image.
What is the effect of light hitting a rough, irregular surface?
Diffuse reflection occurs, scattering light in many directions and creating a blurry image.
What happens if the angle of incidence increases?
The angle of reflection increases by the same amount, according to the law of reflection ().
What are the differences between specular and diffuse reflection?
Specular: smooth surface, uniform reflection, clear image | Diffuse: rough surface, scattered reflection, blurry image.
Compare the surfaces that cause specular and diffuse reflection.
Specular: smooth, polished surfaces (mirrors, calm water) | Diffuse: rough, irregular surfaces (paper, fabric).
Compare the images formed by specular and diffuse reflection.
Specular: clear, undistorted images | Diffuse: blurry, scattered images.
Specular vs. Diffuse: Direction of reflected rays?
Specular: Reflected rays are parallel. | Diffuse: Reflected rays scatter in many directions.
Specular vs. Diffuse: Image clarity?
Specular: Clear image. | Diffuse: No clear image.
What is a light ray?
A straight-line path that light travels in a specific direction, perpendicular to the wavefront.
Define angle of incidence.
The angle between the incoming light ray and the normal (a line perpendicular to the surface).
Define angle of reflection.
The angle between the outgoing (reflected) light ray and the normal (a line perpendicular to the surface).
What is diffuse reflection?
Reflection that occurs when light bounces off a rough, irregular surface, scattering light in many directions.
What is specular reflection?
Reflection that occurs when light bounces off a smooth, polished surface, reflecting light uniformly in a single direction.