When light strikes a smooth surface, it bounces back, a phenomenon known as reflection. The angle of incidence, which is the angle between the incident ray and the normal line perpendicular to the surface, is equal to the angle of reflection. This can be observed in everyday life, such as when looking into a mirror.
Refraction occurs when light passes from one medium to another, causing its direction to change. This change in direction is due to the difference in the speed of light in different mediums. Snell's Law, expressed as n₁sinθ₁ = n₂sinθ₂, relates the angles of incidence and refraction to the refractive indices of the two mediums involved. For example, when light passes from air to water, it bends towards the normal, resulting in objects appearing closer than they actually are underwater.
The formation of images is a fascinating aspect of light behaviour. When an object is placed in front of a mirror, an image is formed through reflection. Depending on the type of mirror used, the image can be magnified, reduced, or appear laterally inverted. Concave mirrors, which are curved inward, focus light and produce real or virtual images depending on the relative positions of the object and focal point. Convex mirrors, on the other hand, always produce virtual, diminished, and erect images.