Which term would you use to describe the bouncing back of light off a surface?

Which term would you use to describe the bouncing back of light off a surface?

• A. Reflect
• B. Refract
• C. Scatter
• D. Solar

Answer: (A)

The bouncing back of light when it hits a surface is called reflection. When light encounters a boundary and breturns into the same medium, it changes direction in a way that follows the rule that the angle at which it hits the surface (the angle of incidence) equals the angle at which it leaves (the angle of reflection), at least for a smooth surface. That’s why mirrors produce clear images—the surface directs the light back toward your eyes in a predictable way. On rough surfaces, the light still reflects, but in many different directions, giving a scattered or diffuse reflection and a less defined image. Refraction would be the bending of light as it passes into a different material, not bouncing back. Scatter is when light spreads in many directions due to irregularities or particles, and solar isn’t a process describing this interaction.

The bouncing back of light when it hits a surface is called reflection. When light encounters a boundary and breturns into the same medium, it changes direction in a way that follows the rule that the angle at which it hits the surface (the angle of incidence) equals the angle at which it leaves (the angle of reflection), at least for a smooth surface. That’s why mirrors produce clear images—the surface directs the light back toward your eyes in a predictable way. On rough surfaces, the light still reflects, but in many different directions, giving a scattered or diffuse reflection and a less defined image. Refraction would be the bending of light as it passes into a different material, not bouncing back. Scatter is when light spreads in many directions due to irregularities or particles, and solar isn’t a process describing this interaction.