A flashlight uses both reflection and refraction. The light reflects off the reflector (#4 in in the diagram) that is positioned around the lamp. The reflector re-routes the light rays from the lamp/light bulb, this causes a consistent beam of light which is the light you see when turning a flashlight on. Flashlights use total internal reflection by using a light bulb as a source of light. The light bounces off of the lenses located underneath the light bulb. In example two in the picture below it shows that when light travels from a less dense object to a more dense object (air too acrylic) the light slows down and bends. This means its refracting.
When The incoming rays travel parallel to one another and reflects off a smooth surface, the Reflected ray is the same as the incident ray. |
reflectionWhen light (incident ray) is heading towards the glass, it reflects away from the glass (reflected ray). Both rays are at the same angle. The angle of incidence and angle of reflection are the same, thus causing reflection.
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refractionlight refracts in all different directions because when the light passes through a medium that is more dense (acrylic glass) there are more particles in the space, meaning light cannot travel as quickly. That is why the light is bending because it slows down when it hits a more dense medium
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