Optics
reflection
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- Last Updated on Wednesday, 25 January 2012 13:35
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Light reflects to a greater or lesser extent at every surface. There is no surface that is truly black; none that will absorb all the incident light. A small proportion of light will always be reflected. The light that is reflected from objects makes them visible. But it is the light that is reflected from smooth surfaces that fascinates us most.
refraction
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- Last Updated on Wednesday, 25 January 2012 14:11
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intro and principle, diagram, Snell's law
reflectance & reflectivity
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- Last Updated on Wednesday, 25 January 2012 13:38
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you might also be interested in these articles: reflection | refraction | what's special about grey?
Reflectance and reflectivity: how are they different?
We know from common experience if not from physics that materials reflect light. We know that lighter materials reflect more light than darker materials; white reflecting the most and black the least. How should we describe this ability to reflect light? Should we refer to this ability as reflectance or reflectivity?
