angle of reflection
Mirror's return path
The angle of reflection is the angle between a reflected ray and the line perpendicular to the surface at the point of reflection.
In physics, this angle equals the angle of incidence—the principle governing how light bounces off mirrors, sound off walls, and billiard balls off cushions.
The angle of reflection determines where the laser beam will hit the target.
Rate of occurrence
- specularMirror-surfaced, image-returning
- refractionWave bending between media
- rayNarrow light emission
- beamStructural support member
mirror · prism · diffraction · dispersion · polarization · laser · photon · surface
Return after deflection
- ricochetAngled deflection off surface
- caromAngled deflection shot
- deflectTurn from course
- recoilBackward force from discharge
return · repel · kickback · elasticity · resilience · spring · boomerang · billiards
Rate of occurrence
- axisRotation reference line
- congruenceState of agreement
- equivalenceState of being equal
- correspondenceExchanged written communication
alignment · parallelism · balance · proportion · uniformity · consistency · isometry · invariance
incidence
Rate of occurrence
- specularMirror-surfaced, image-returning
- refractionWave bending between media
- rayNarrow light emission
beam · mirror · prism · diffraction · dispersion · polarization · laser · photon · surface · medium
rebound
Return after deflection
recoil · return · repel · kickback · elasticity · resilience · spring · boomerang · billiards · trajectory
incidence
Rate of occurrence
- axisRotation reference line
- congruenceState of agreement
- equivalenceState of being equal
correspondence · alignment · parallelism · balance · proportion · uniformity · consistency · isometry · invariance · bilateral
angle of reflectionangle of incidence
Incoming direction relative to perpendicular
angle of reflectioncritical angle
Incidence causing total internal reflection
angle, angles, angled, angling, angular, angularity, triangle, triangular, triangulate