How to explain Laser reflection patterns?
Answers
When a laser is shined on a mirror the mirror reflects, bounces, the light beam back. The angle that the laser enters the mirror is called the incident angle and the angle that the light exits the mirror is called the reflected angle. When the incident angle changes or the angle of the mirror changes, it effects the angle of reflection. To further understand this, stand in front of a mirror and point a laser pointer at it. If you point the laser pointer at a downward angle, then the reflected laser point may end up on the floor. If you do the same experiment but this time hold the laser by your hip and shine it at the mirror at an upward angle, then the reflected laser point will probably be at or near the ceiling. If you want to get technical you may also notice that whatever angle the light hits the mirror, it will reflect back at the same angle from an imaginary line coming straight out of the mirror, called the normal. When the speakers vibrate from the sound coming out of them, the mirror vibrates and changes the normal; therefore, changing the incident angle which then changes the reflected angle. This happens with every vibration and since light travels quickly, we can see the changing vibration by watching the patterns that the laser casts on the wall opposite the mirror.
Reflection is the change in direction of a wavefront at an interface between two different media so that the wavefront returns into the medium from which it originated.
Examples :- reflection of light, sound and water waves.
KnOw more :-
- When a ray of light approaches a smooth polished surface and the light ray bounces back, it is called the reflection of light.
- The incident light ray which lands upon the surface is said to be reflected off the surface. The ray that bounces back is called the reflected ray.
- If a perpendicular were to be drawn on a reflecting surface, it would be called normal.