Explain with the aid of a sketch the difference between reflection and refraction.
Answers
Reflection: This is when a wave hits a surface (e.g light hitting a mirror) and is bounced back. Remember that in reflection the angle of incidence (this is the angle that the initial wave makes from the normal), is the same as the angle of reflection (the angle that the reflected wave makes from the normal).
Refraction: When light travels from air into another material (such as glass) at any angle other than normal (perpendicular), it slows down. As it slows down it changes direction, meaning that the angle that it is travelling at changes - the angle becomes closer to the normal. (a picture would help to explain this)
Difference Between Reflection and Refraction. The phenomenon of a light beam rebounding after hitting a surface is called reflection. ... There's another phenomenon called refraction. Here, the light changes direction, or 'bends' as it passes through the boundary between these two media.Jan 9, 2018