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Reflection

Straight waves at an angle reflect at the same angle.angle i = angle rWhere i is the angle of incidence and r is the angle of reflection.
The reflected wave is the same angle to the surface as the incident waveThe wavelength is unchanged.If a wave reflects from a point that is fixed or rigid, it will be inverted. For example, a crest will reflect as a trough.If a wave reflects from a free end, its phase is retained, meaning a crest reflects as a crest.

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Specification: AQA Physics (7407), AS-level, 3.3.1.1 Progressive waves. Topic: Waves.

Key terms in this lesson

Refractive index
A measure of how much a substance slows down and bends light, equal to the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum to the speed of light in the substance, or, at a boundary, sin i divided by sin r.
Critical angle
The angle of incidence, in the denser medium, above which total internal reflection occurs at a boundary.

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