Difference Between Reflection and Refraction for JEE Main 2025

Reflection and refraction are fundamental concepts in optics, the study of light behavior. In this introductory guide, we will delve into the essentials of reflection and refraction, their significance, and real-life applications.

Reflection involves the bouncing back of light rays from surfaces, such as mirrors or water. The angle of incidence, at which light strikes the surface, equals the angle of reflection, following the law of reflection.

Refraction occurs when light changes direction as it passes through different mediums, caused by variations in light speed. Snell's law mathematically describes this bending, relating angles of incidence and refraction.

Understanding reflection and refraction is crucial in various fields, including optics, physics, engineering, and photography, offering insights into vision, image formation, and optical phenomena.

What is Reflection and Refraction?

Defining Reflection

Reflection is the process of reflecting light, sound, or other forms of energy when they strike a surface or boundary. When light waves hit a smooth, shiny surface like a mirror or standing water, they bounce off the surface in a predictable way. The law of reflection describes the behavior of light during reflection. It states that the angle of incidence (the angle at which a ray of light strikes a surface) is equal to the angle of reflection (the angle at which a ray of light reflects off the surface), the two angles being measured with respect to a la normal (an imaginary line perpendicular to the surface).

Key Points to Think about: 

Incident Ray: An incident ray of light striking a surface. 

Reflected Ray: A ray of light that is reflected from a surface after being reflected.

Normal: an imaginary line perpendicular to the surface at the point of incidence. 

Angle of Incidence: Angle between the incident ray and the normal. 

Angle of Reflection: Angle between the reflected ray and the normal. Reflection plays a fundamental role in our daily life. It allows us to see objects because light reflects off them and enters our eyes. Mirrors, shiny surfaces, and still waters are typical examples of reflective surfaces. Reflectance is also important in fields such as optics, photography, and engineering, where the control and manipulation of light and other wavelengths is critical. Note that reflection is not limited to light.

Defining Refraction

Refraction is the deflection of a wave, such as light or sound, on its way from one medium to another with different optical densities. It is caused by a change in the speed of the wave when passing from one medium to another. When a wave encounters a boundary between two media, it can change direction and speed. The change in speed causes the shaft to bend or collapse. The magnitude and direction of the bend depend on the properties of the medium involved and the angle at which the wave approaches the boundary.

Major Breaking Points: 

Incident Wave: An incoming wave that encounters a boundary between two media.transmitted wave: wave that penetrates the second medium after refraction. 

Angle of Refraction: The angle between the transmitted wave and the normal to the interface. 

Angle of Incidence: Angle between the incident wave and the normal to the interface. 

Index of Refraction: A measure of how much a medium slows or speeds up a wave compared to vacuum or air. The phenomenon of refraction is often observed when light passes through transparent materials such as water, glass or lenses.

For example, as light travels from air to water, it slows down, causing the light rays to bend toward the normal. 

Conversely, light accelerates as it travels from water to air, causing the light rays to deviate from normal. Refraction is responsible for various optical phenomena, such as the bending of light in lenses, the scattering of white light in the spectrum by a prism, and the formation of mirages in the atmosphere. Understanding and controlling refraction is crucial in fields such as optics, lens design, and the study of waves and their behaviour in different media.

Difference Between Reflection and Refraction

These differences highlight the distinct mechanisms and characteristics of reflection and refraction. Reflection involves the bouncing back of a wave upon encountering a surface, while refraction refers to the bending of a wave as it passes through different media.

Summary

Reflection refers to the reflection of a wave when it strikes a surface or boundary. This is because the wave changes direction as it hits the surface. The angle of incidence (angle of incidence) is equal to the angle of reflection (angle of exit). Reflection can occur in the medium itself and is responsible for phenomena such as image formation in mirrors and echoes in sound. Refraction is the deflection of a wave when passing from one medium to another with different optical densities.This is because the speed of the wave changes as it passes between the media. The angle of incidence differs from the angle of refraction. Refraction is a change in the medium and is responsible for phenomena such as the bending of light in the lens, the scattering of white light, and the focusing of light in the lens. This can happen with other waves as well, such as sound waves passing through different media.