Question

Does sound follow the same laws of reflection as light does?

Answer 1

Hint
To answer whether sound follows the same laws of reflection as light we should know the law of reflection of light and the characteristics of a sound wave. Light acts as a wave when reflection takes place and sound is also a wave which is formed when particles vibrate.

Complete step by step answer
Sound: Sound is produced through the vibration of particles. Vibration is defined as the periodic back and forth motion of particles when force is applied. While moving back and forth the particles bump into each other and produce sound. These particles result in a formation of mechanical waves known as sound waves.

Let us see what the law of reflection is,
The law of reflection states that when the light falls on a surface and reflects, the angle of reflection is equal to the angle of incidence, and also the incident ray, the reflected ray, and the normal to the surface all lie in the same plane.
Sound bounces off a liquid or a solid like a ball bounces off a wall.
Like light, sound gets reflected at the surface of a solid or liquid and follows the laws of reflection same as light. The directions in which the sound is incident on a surface and is reflected make equal angles with the normal to the reflecting surface at the point of incidence, and the three are in the same plane.
So, sound also follows the same laws of reflection as the light.

Note
An obstacle of large size which may be polished or rough is needed for the reflection of sound waves apart from that sound also follows the same laws of reflection as the light does.