When light bounces off a surface, which component will be reflected more - the component that is parallel to the surface, or the component that is perpendicular to the surface, and why?

Question

Physics

Jonathon

22 June, 06:57

When light bounces off a surface, which component will be reflected more - the component that is parallel to the surface, or the component that is perpendicular to the surface, and why?

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Answers (1)

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Cory Molina · Answer 1

Parallel to the surface.

Explanation:

The answer is parallel to the surface.

Angle of reflection:

This is angle made by reflecting ray from the surface. Or we can say that when incident ray bounces off from the surface then the angle made by ray with surface is known as angle of reflection.

The component of ray which is parallel to the surface will reflect more than the component which perpendicular to the surface.

The angle of reflection is maximum for parallel wave.