Question

Specular vs. diffuse reflection

Look around you right now and find 1 example of something that you see due to specular reflection, and 1 example due to diffuse reflection.

Document your observations with a quick picture to show us what you see (you should be able to take a single photo that includes examples of both).

Either label your photo directly to show the two examples in your photo of each type of reflection or describe in words which aspects of the photo you are focusing on for each example

Use the definitions provided in class for diffuse and specular reflection to explain, in one or two sentences for each, why you identify each example in your photo as either specular or diffuse reflection.

Answer 1

The above picture is an example of specular reflection.

Specular reflection is the reflection of the light of a smooth surface such that the reflected ray is at the same angle to the surface normal as the incident ray and reflected rays are are in a single outgoing direction.

Here, the image of the pen can be clearly seen in the mirror along with a reflection of the ceiling fan, as the mirror is a smooth surface and the laws of reflection are followed smoothly.

The above picture shows an example of diffuse reflection.

Diffuse reflection is the reflection of light off a surface such that it is scattered at many angles rather than just one direction as in the case of specular reflection.

Here, the image of the pen is looking blurred and the image of the ceiling fan is not visible (it was visible in the case of specular reflection) because of diffuse reflection.

In the above picture, I have tried to show both the specular and the diffuse reflection at the same time.

To the left, the mirror exhibits specular reflection. The image of the stick and the reflection ceiling fan is visible clearly too,

To the right, the metal plate shows diffuse reflection. The image of the stick is appearing somewhat blurred and the ceiling fan is not visible at all.