Angle of reflection is defined as the angle between the normal and which?

Angle of reflection is defined as the angle between the normal and which?

• A. The incident ray
• B. The surface
• C. The normal
• D. A reflected ray of light

Answer: (D)

The angle of reflection is the angle formed between the normal to the surface at the point of contact and the reflected ray. The normal is a line perpendicular to the surface, so measuring from that line keeps the angle consistent regardless of how the surface is tilted. According to the law of reflection, this angle equals the angle of incidence, both measured from the normal, which is why the reflected ray’s angle is defined with the normal rather than the incident ray or the surface itself.

The angle of reflection is the angle formed between the normal to the surface at the point of contact and the reflected ray. The normal is a line perpendicular to the surface, so measuring from that line keeps the angle consistent regardless of how the surface is tilted. According to the law of reflection, this angle equals the angle of incidence, both measured from the normal, which is why the reflected ray’s angle is defined with the normal rather than the incident ray or the surface itself.