Film title: What is a reflection?
We see things when light bounces off objects into our eyes.
This is called reflection.
Reflection
Almost everything reflects light but some surfaces are better reflectors than others.
Dark or dull surfaces like slate, concrete and wood are poor reflectors.
dark or dull surfaces
absorb light
Most of the light that hits them is absorbed and little bounces back off.
Uneven or rough surfaces like sand, leather and stone scatter the light that hits them.
uneven or rough surfaces
scatter light in many directions
While some light is absorbed, most of it bounces off all the tiny bumps on the surface in many different directions.
Smooth, light coloured, or shiny surfaces like glass, water and metal are excellent reflectors.
shiny surfaces
highly reflective
All the light that hits them bounces back off.
We say they are highly reflective.
Mirrors.
Mirrors
Mirrors are highly reflective.
They are made by putting a layer of shiny silver underneath a layer of glass.
Almost all light hitting a mirror bounces back off it.
The smooth surface means each beam of light bounces back in just one direction.
A mirror reflects light so well that when we look into one, we see our own face looking back.
But you only see your face if you are directly in front of a mirror.
If you look into a mirror at an angle, you will see light reflected from objects to the side of you instead.
Light reflects everywhere ... even behind you!
This allows us to use mirrors in many places, to see where we normally can't.
That's very useful at the dentists!
reflection
absorb
scatter
reflective
This is called reflection.
Reflection
Almost everything reflects light but some surfaces are better reflectors than others.
Dark or dull surfaces like slate, concrete and wood are poor reflectors.
dark or dull surfaces
absorb light
Most of the light that hits them is absorbed and little bounces back off.
Uneven or rough surfaces like sand, leather and stone scatter the light that hits them.
uneven or rough surfaces
scatter light in many directions
While some light is absorbed, most of it bounces off all the tiny bumps on the surface in many different directions.
Smooth, light coloured, or shiny surfaces like glass, water and metal are excellent reflectors.
shiny surfaces
highly reflective
All the light that hits them bounces back off.
We say they are highly reflective.
Mirrors.
Mirrors
Mirrors are highly reflective.
They are made by putting a layer of shiny silver underneath a layer of glass.
Almost all light hitting a mirror bounces back off it.
The smooth surface means each beam of light bounces back in just one direction.
A mirror reflects light so well that when we look into one, we see our own face looking back.
But you only see your face if you are directly in front of a mirror.
If you look into a mirror at an angle, you will see light reflected from objects to the side of you instead.
Light reflects everywhere ... even behind you!
This allows us to use mirrors in many places, to see where we normally can't.
That's very useful at the dentists!
reflection
absorb
scatter
reflective
Understand that reflection is light bouncing off a surface.
Learning points
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