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  1. AP Physics 2 Revised
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What are the differences between specular and diffuse reflection?

Specular: smooth surface, uniform reflection, clear image | Diffuse: rough surface, scattered reflection, blurry image.

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What are the differences between specular and diffuse reflection?

Specular: smooth surface, uniform reflection, clear image | Diffuse: rough surface, scattered reflection, blurry image.

Compare the surfaces that cause specular and diffuse reflection.

Specular: smooth, polished surfaces (mirrors, calm water) | Diffuse: rough, irregular surfaces (paper, fabric).

Compare the images formed by specular and diffuse reflection.

Specular: clear, undistorted images | Diffuse: blurry, scattered images.

Specular vs. Diffuse: Direction of reflected rays?

Specular: Reflected rays are parallel. | Diffuse: Reflected rays scatter in many directions.

Specular vs. Diffuse: Image clarity?

Specular: Clear image. | Diffuse: No clear image.

Compare specular and diffuse reflection.

Specular: Smooth surface, uniform reflection, clear image. Diffuse: Rough surface, scattered reflection, blurry image.

Differentiate between angle of incidence and angle of reflection.

Angle of incidence: Angle between incoming ray and normal. Angle of reflection: Angle between reflected ray and normal. They are equal.

What is the effect of light hitting a smooth, polished surface?

Specular reflection occurs, creating a clear, undistorted image.

What is the effect of light hitting a rough, irregular surface?

Diffuse reflection occurs, scattering light in many directions and creating a blurry image.

What happens if the angle of incidence increases?

The angle of reflection increases by the same amount, according to the law of reflection (θi=θr\theta_{i} = \theta_{r}θi​=θr​).