Let’s go step by step to solve this problem.
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We are told:
> A light ray strikes a flat mirror with a
30-degree angle of incidence.
We need to find the
angle between the incident ray and the reflected ray.
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Step 1: Understand the Law of Reflection
The law of reflection says:
> The
angle of incidence equals the
angle of reflection.
Both angles are measured from the
normal line (the imaginary line perpendicular to the mirror at the point where the light hits).
So if the angle of incidence is 30°, then the angle of reflection is also 30°.
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Step 2: Visualize the Rays
Imagine the normal line as a straight vertical line sticking out of the mirror.
- The
incident ray comes in at 30° to the left of the normal.
- The
reflected ray goes out at 30° to the right of the normal.
So, the total angle between the incident ray and the reflected ray is:
> 30° (from incident to normal) + 30° (from normal to reflected) =
60°
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Step 3: Double-check
Think of it like this: If you stand facing a wall (mirror), and you throw a ball at an angle 30° to your left (relative to straight ahead), it bounces off at 30° to your right. The total turn from incoming to outgoing path is 60°.
Yes — that makes sense.
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Final Answer:
60 degrees
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of law of reflection worksheet.
