Fényvisszaverés

Fényvisszaverés is the Hungarian term for reflection, a fundamental phenomenon in optics. It describes the change in direction of a wave, such as light, when it encounters a surface. When light strikes a boundary between two different media, some of the light is reflected back into the first medium. The nature of this reflection depends on the properties of the surface.

A smooth, polished surface, like a mirror, exhibits specular reflection. In this type of reflection, parallel rays of incident light are reflected as parallel rays, preserving the image of the object. The law of reflection states that the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection, and both the incident ray, the reflected ray, and the normal to the surface at the point of incidence all lie in the same plane.

Rough surfaces, on the other hand, cause diffuse reflection. Here, incident parallel rays of light are reflected in many different directions because the surface irregularities are comparable in size to the wavelength of the light. This is why most objects we see in everyday life, which are not mirrors, appear matte and do not form clear images. The color of an object is determined by the wavelengths of light it reflects. For example, a red object appears red because it absorbs most wavelengths of visible light and reflects primarily red wavelengths. Fényvisszaverés is crucial for vision and is utilized in numerous technologies, from telescopes and cameras to road signs and decorative elements.