Question

The law of reflection is quite useful for mirrors and other flat, shiny surfaces. (This sort of reflection is called specular reflection). However, you've likely been told that when you look at something, you are seeing light reflected from the object that you are looking at. This is reflection of a different sort of diffuse reflection.

Suppose that the spotlight shines so that different parts of the beam reflect off of different two surfaces, one inclined at an angle alpha (from the horizontal) and one inclined at an angle beta. What would the angular separation between the rays reflected from the two surfaces?

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

Suppose initially the plane was horizontal and light was reflected back at some angle θ from the normal .

Now the reflecting surface is twisted so that is becomes inclined at angle alpha .

The reflected light will be deviated from its original direction by angle

2 x alpha .

Similarly when the reflecting surface is further twisted so that it becomes inclined at angle beta then again the reflected beam will deviated by angle

2 x beta

Hence angle between these two reflected beam

= 2 beta - 2 alpha

= 2 ( β - α )

So, angular separation between the rays reflected from the two surfaces

= 2 ( β - α ) .