Light of wavelength 5000 Å falls on a plane reflecting surface. What are the wavelength and frequency of the reflected light? For what angle of incidence is the reflected ray normal to the incident ray?
During reflection at a surface, wavelength and frequency of light wave remain same, only phase of the wave changes by 180°.
Thus, wavelength of reflected light is 5000 Å itself.
We know c = ν λ
where c, ν, λ are velocity, frequency, wavelength respectively.
c = ν × 5000 × 10-10
∴ ν = 3 × 108/5000 × 10-10
= 6 × 1014 Hz
Wavelength of reflected light is 5000 Å
and frequency is 6 × 1014 Hz
Angle between incident and refracted ray,
θ = I + R
Where ‘I’ is incident angle and ‘R’ is reflected angle.
We need to find angle of incidence for which angel between incident and reflected ray is 90°.
i.e., θ = 90°
I + R = 90°
From laws of reflection,
Angle of incidence = Angle of reflection
i.e., I = R
∴ I + I = 2I = 90°
I = 45°