Reflection

Reflection is the bouncing back of light at a surface it cannot cross, obeying the two laws of reflection already stated in Section 9.3. Two distinct cases are developed in the following two sub-sections. Reflection from a PLANE surface always produces a virtual, laterally-inverted image of the same size as the object, at the same distance behind the mirror as the object is in front of it -- and, interestingly, can multiply into several images when two plane mirrors are set facing each other at an angle, as in a kaleidoscope. Reflection from CURVED (spherical) mirrors -- concave and convex -- is the physical basis of many everyday and technical devices, from torches, headlights and vehicle rear-view mirrors to telescopes and shaving mirrors, a …