Laws Of Reflection
The laws of reflection state that the incident ray, reflected ray, and normal lie in one plane, and angle of incidence equals angle of reflection.
Practice This ConceptMain explanation
Teacher explanation
The first law tells us that the incident ray, reflected ray, and the normal must remain in the same plane. The second law says the angle made by the incident ray with the normal is equal to the angle made by the reflected ray with the normal. This is always measured from the normal, not from the mirror surface.
Example
If a ray strikes a mirror at 40° to the normal, the reflected ray also makes 40° to the normal.
Simple analogy
Normal decides the angle; mirror surface does not.
Common confusion
Students often measure the angle with the mirror surface instead of the normal.
Exam tip
In ray diagrams, always draw the normal first; most marks are lost because of wrong angle marking.
Answer writing and exam use
1-mark use
Write the exact meaning of laws of reflection in one clean line.
2-mark use
Define laws of reflection and add one example or condition.
3-mark use
Explain laws of reflection, show the method or example, and mention the common mistake.
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