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Multiple Choice
When light reflects off of a smooth surface, and rays that were initially parallel remain parallel, this is called…
A
diffuse reflection.
B
ray optics.
C
interference.
D
angle of incidence.
E
ray diagram.
F
specular reflection.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Begin by understanding the concept of reflection. Reflection occurs when light bounces off a surface. There are two main types of reflection: specular and diffuse.
Specular reflection happens when light reflects off a smooth surface, such as a mirror, where the incident rays remain parallel after reflection. This is because the surface is smooth and the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection.
Diffuse reflection occurs when light reflects off a rough surface, causing the reflected rays to scatter in many directions. This is because the surface irregularities cause variations in the angle of reflection.
Ray optics is a branch of optics that deals with the propagation of light in terms of rays, which is useful for understanding reflection and refraction.
The angle of incidence is the angle between the incident ray and the normal (perpendicular) to the surface at the point of incidence. In specular reflection, the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection.