Explain the process of reflection.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reflection_%28physics%29
http://www.google.com/#q=process+of+reflection.
Reflection is the process by which light, sound, or other forms of energy bounce off a surface and return back to the medium through which it traveled. It occurs when a wave encounters a boundary between two different materials or mediums, causing it to change direction.
To understand the process of reflection, let's consider the example of light reflecting off a mirror:
1. Light is made up of tiny particles called photons, which travel in a straight line until they encounter an object or surface.
2. When light waves hit a mirror, they interact with the smooth, polished surface.
3. The surface of the mirror is made of a highly reflective material, such as glass coated with a thin layer of metal. This coating is usually made of aluminum or silver, which are very good reflectors of light.
4. When the photons of light hit the mirror's surface, they are absorbed by the atoms in the metal coating for a very brief moment.
5. Almost instantly, the absorbed photons are re-emitted by the atoms and bounce back off the surface of the mirror. This is the reflection.
6. The reflected photons travel back through the medium they came from, following the laws of reflection.
7. The laws of reflection state that the angle of incidence (the angle at which the light strikes the mirror) is equal to the angle of reflection (the angle at which the light bounces off the mirror).
8. This means that the light waves change direction, but they maintain the same angle of separation as they had before reflecting off the mirror.
9. Our eyes then receive the reflected light, allowing us to see the image of the objects that emitted or reflected light towards the mirror.
This process of reflection allows us to see ourselves in mirrors, as well as various objects and surroundings. It is a fundamental concept in physics and plays a significant role in many everyday applications, ranging from mirrors and lenses to radar and sonar systems.