Reflection vs Refraction
Difference between reflection and refraction? What is it’s formula?
Reflection and refraction
Reflection:
Reflection is simply defined as the sudden change in the path or direction of propagation of a wave from one medium to another when the boundary in between is struck. The wave doesn’t get altered as it is obstructed by the boundary of the medium. The process of regular reflection takes place only at plane boundaries. The wave line that strikes the initial surface is known as the incident ray, and the one that forms when it is reflected by the boundary is known as the reflected ray. The angle between the incident ray and the perpendicular at the point of incidence is known as the angle of incidence. And the angle formed between the reflected ray and the perpendicular at the point of incidence is known as the angle of reflection. When the wave strikes the surface of the boundary, a fraction of the energy that comes along with it is also reflected. That is known as the reflectivity of surface material.
Refraction:
Refraction, on the other hand, is defined as the shift in direction of any wave that passes to a different medium from the initial created by its change in speed of the wave. To understand this better, we can take the examples It is true that the speed of sound waves is higher in hot conditions than in cold conditions. Another practical example is that air is cooled at the surface of a lake during the night times. Therefore, all sound waves that tend to move upward are directly refracted by the warm air at the top near the lake. So, we hear louder voices around the sea at night than day/
Law of reflection: θi = θr
(Let’s consider that the incident ray makes an angle θi with the normal of a plane tangent to the boundary.
Similarly, the reflected ray makes an angle θr with this normal of a plane tangent to the boundary. Both are on the same plane)
Law of refraction: nisinθi = ntsinθt.
(Let’s consider that the incident ray makes an angle θi with the normal of a plane tangent to the boundary.
Similarly, the refracted ray makes an angle θt with this normal of a plane( in the other medium) tangent to the boundary and ni and nt are the refractive index of each medium respectively)
– Written By GODHULI MONDAL
