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°


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