The Flat Mirror Model (or plane mirror model) in physics describes how light reflects off a flat, smooth surface to form a predictable, undistorted image. It is the most fundamental model in geometric optics, relying on the fact that your brain interprets incoming light rays as if they always travel in a perfectly straight line. The Core Law of Reflection
The model operates under the Law of Reflection, which states that the angle at which a light ray hits a surface equals the angle at which it bounces off.
The Normal Line: An imaginary line perpendicular to the mirror’s surface at the point of impact. Angle of Incidence ( θitheta sub i
): The angle between the incoming light ray and the normal line. Angle of Reflection ( θrtheta sub r
): The angle between the exiting light ray and the normal line. The Equation: The law is simply mathematically written as 5 Key Characteristics of the Image
When light bounces off a flat mirror according to the law of reflection, the resulting image always exhibits five specific mathematical properties: Physics 422 Flat Mirrors and Concave Mirrors
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