Light Energy - JSS2 Basic science Past Questions and Answers - page 1

When light reflects off a surface, it essentially bounces back from that surface. This bouncing occurs because light encounters the surface and changes direction, obeying the law of reflection, where the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection. This phenomenon allows us to see objects and images in mirrors and other reflective surfaces.

Refraction and reflection are both ways that light interacts with surfaces, but they involve different processes. Refraction occurs when light passes from one medium into another and changes direction due to differences in the speed of light in those mediums. This bending of light is described by Snell's law. In contrast, reflection involves light bouncing off a surface without penetrating it, following the law of reflection where the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection.

One common example of refraction in everyday life is when you see a straw appear bent or broken when partially submerged in a glass of water. This phenomenon occurs because light traveling from the straw to your eyes bends as it passes through the water, causing the apparent distortion of the straw's position. This bending of light is due to the change in the speed of light as it moves from air to water, following Snell's law.