Question

If a person has a shiny nose, applying powder will remove the shine without reducing the amount of light reflecting from the nose. This is an example of?

1) polarization
2) diffraction
3) diffuse reflection
4) specular reflection

Answer 1

3 diffuse reflection

Answer 2

Applying powder to a shiny nose removes the shine through diffuse reflection, where light is scattered in many directions due to the powder's randomly oriented surfaces. This contrasts with specular reflection from a smooth surface resulting in a clear reflection.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a person has a shiny nose, the shine is typically a result of specular reflection, where light reflects off a smooth surface at specific angles. Applying powder to a shiny nose removes the shine because the powder consists of many small particles with randomly oriented surfaces, leading to diffuse reflection. This optical effect scatters light in many directions rather than reflecting it directly back, as would be the case with a smooth, shiny surface.

The law of reflection explains this phenomenon by stating that when light rays strike a smooth surface, the angle of reflection equals the angle of incidence, creating a clear reflection. However, with a rough surface, like the powdered nose, the light hits at different angles and is reflected in multiple directions, resulting in a reduction of shine and no clear reflection.