With specular reflectors the angle of reflection is ____ to the angle of transmission.

With specular reflectors the angle of reflection is ____ to the angle of transmission.

• A. Equal
• B. Not equal
• C. Larger
• D. Smaller

Answer: (A)

Specular reflection follows the law of reflection: the angle a ray makes with the surface normal on the way in is equal to the angle it makes with the normal on the way out. In a specular reflector there is no refraction through the surface, so the only relevant comparison is between the incoming direction and the reflected direction, and they are the same in measure relative to the normal. That’s why the angle of reflection is equal to the angle of transmission (interpreting transmission here as the incoming direction) in this context.

Specular reflection follows the law of reflection: the angle a ray makes with the surface normal on the way in is equal to the angle it makes with the normal on the way out. In a specular reflector there is no refraction through the surface, so the only relevant comparison is between the incoming direction and the reflected direction, and they are the same in measure relative to the normal. That’s why the angle of reflection is equal to the angle of transmission (interpreting transmission here as the incoming direction) in this context.