ray of light incident on a boundary

[mcgill2012]

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....can it be both reflected and refracted at the same time? if so, under what conditions is this possible? is there a mathematical relationship between the angle of incidence and the angle of reflection? ie: 90 degrees apart?

 

[Rabolisk]

It is typically both reflected and refracted at the same time. Some light is reflected, and some is refracted. Angle of incidence and angle of reflection are equal.

 

[mcgill2012]

sorry that was an idiotic question - what i meant to ask was is there a mathematical relationship between angle of refraction and angle of reflection? i would think theyre 90 degrees apart but im hesitant to assume.

 

[Rabolisk]

There is a mathematical relationship, but it's not always 90 degrees. That is a special case called Brewster's angle. I wonder what the relationship between angle of reflection and angle of refraction is......?

 

[mcgill2012]

ok thanks!
so if theres always both reflection and refraction going on, then changing media always involves a reduction in light intensity.. right?

 

[Rabolisk]

Did you figure out the relationship between angle of reflection and angle of refraction? As far as your question goes, generally intensity would be reduced.

 

[mcgill2012]

thanks! havent been able to figure the relationship out from my notes..

 

[Rabolisk]

It's called snell's law.

 

[mcgill2012]

oops. thanks!