Why does reflection occur on transparent materials?












1












$begingroup$


Why does reflection occur on transparent materials? For example, air/glass or air/water (two different interfaces)



Mostly it's refraction that's occurring, but I also see some reflection. Why is that?






reflection refraction







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Kelly Choi is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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  • $begingroup$
    Good question. Check out en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fresnel_equations The simple GIF anim at the top of that article is quite good.
    $endgroup$
    – PM 2Ring
    1 hour ago
















1












$begingroup$


Why does reflection occur on transparent materials? For example, air/glass or air/water (two different interfaces)



Mostly it's refraction that's occurring, but I also see some reflection. Why is that?






reflection refraction







share|cite|improve this question







New contributor




Kelly Choi is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.







$endgroup$












  • $begingroup$
    Good question. Check out en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fresnel_equations The simple GIF anim at the top of that article is quite good.
    $endgroup$
    – PM 2Ring
    1 hour ago














1












1








1





$begingroup$


Why does reflection occur on transparent materials? For example, air/glass or air/water (two different interfaces)



Mostly it's refraction that's occurring, but I also see some reflection. Why is that?






reflection refraction







share|cite|improve this question







New contributor




Kelly Choi is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.







$endgroup$




Why does reflection occur on transparent materials? For example, air/glass or air/water (two different interfaces)



Mostly it's refraction that's occurring, but I also see some reflection. Why is that?






reflection refraction




reflection refraction






share|cite|improve this question







New contributor




Kelly Choi is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











share|cite|improve this question







New contributor




Kelly Choi is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









share|cite|improve this question




share|cite|improve this question






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Kelly Choi is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









asked 3 hours ago









Kelly ChoiKelly Choi

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New contributor





Kelly Choi is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.






Kelly Choi is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.












  • $begingroup$
    Good question. Check out en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fresnel_equations The simple GIF anim at the top of that article is quite good.
    $endgroup$
    – PM 2Ring
    1 hour ago


















  • $begingroup$
    Good question. Check out en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fresnel_equations The simple GIF anim at the top of that article is quite good.
    $endgroup$
    – PM 2Ring
    1 hour ago
















$begingroup$
Good question. Check out en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fresnel_equations The simple GIF anim at the top of that article is quite good.
$endgroup$
– PM 2Ring
1 hour ago




$begingroup$
Good question. Check out en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fresnel_equations The simple GIF anim at the top of that article is quite good.
$endgroup$
– PM 2Ring
1 hour ago










4 Answers
4






active

oldest

votes


















2












$begingroup$

Reflection usually happens because of a change in refractive index. Reflection occurs because the EM field of the incoming radiation causes oscillations. Electrons in the material receiving light jiggle as it hits them, making them each secondary emitters of radiation and they re-emit light (effectively seems like bouncing off). Glass and water both have different refractive indices than air, so when there's an interface between air and water or between air and glass, you get a reflection. This is why you see reflections off glass or off the water, or other materials that are normally transparent. This emitted radiation goes both into the substrate and back into the original medium, with the net sum of all of the secondary emissions forming the reflected and refracted rays, respectively.






share|cite|improve this answer









$endgroup$





















    1












    $begingroup$

    As a general answer, waves reflect at discontinuities in the velocity of propagation. This is also true for a pulse on a string, for example at a knot where ropes of different densities are joined together. Or at a mass that is fixed on the string.






    share|cite|improve this answer









    $endgroup$





















      0












      $begingroup$

      It's because transparent materials aren't fully transparent; they let most of the light through (and this is refracted); and the light which isn't let though, is reflected.






      share|cite|improve this answer









      $endgroup$













      • $begingroup$
        How would this answer the question?
        $endgroup$
        – Pieter
        1 hour ago



















      0












      $begingroup$

      It is a property of waves that when they meet an interface, where the medium through which they travel changes, some of the wave is reflected from the interface and some of the wave is transmitted through the interface.



      In the case of light it is a change in the refractive index (related to the speed of light in the medium) which produces a reflected and a transmitted wave.



      All other things being equal a greater amount of reflection occurs at an air/glass interface than at an air/water interface because the difference in refractive index at the air(n=1)/glass(n=1.5) interface is greater than for the air(n=1)/water(n=1.33) interface.



      Note that a light wave traveling in a medium of higher refractive index than the refractive index of the medium on the other side of the interface can be totally internally reflected if the angle of incidence exceeds the critical angle.






      share|cite|improve this answer









      $endgroup$













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        4 Answers
        4






        active

        oldest

        votes








        4 Answers
        4






        active

        oldest

        votes









        active

        oldest

        votes






        active

        oldest

        votes









        2












        $begingroup$

        Reflection usually happens because of a change in refractive index. Reflection occurs because the EM field of the incoming radiation causes oscillations. Electrons in the material receiving light jiggle as it hits them, making them each secondary emitters of radiation and they re-emit light (effectively seems like bouncing off). Glass and water both have different refractive indices than air, so when there's an interface between air and water or between air and glass, you get a reflection. This is why you see reflections off glass or off the water, or other materials that are normally transparent. This emitted radiation goes both into the substrate and back into the original medium, with the net sum of all of the secondary emissions forming the reflected and refracted rays, respectively.






        share|cite|improve this answer









        $endgroup$


















          2












          $begingroup$

          Reflection usually happens because of a change in refractive index. Reflection occurs because the EM field of the incoming radiation causes oscillations. Electrons in the material receiving light jiggle as it hits them, making them each secondary emitters of radiation and they re-emit light (effectively seems like bouncing off). Glass and water both have different refractive indices than air, so when there's an interface between air and water or between air and glass, you get a reflection. This is why you see reflections off glass or off the water, or other materials that are normally transparent. This emitted radiation goes both into the substrate and back into the original medium, with the net sum of all of the secondary emissions forming the reflected and refracted rays, respectively.






          share|cite|improve this answer









          $endgroup$
















            2












            2








            2





            $begingroup$

            Reflection usually happens because of a change in refractive index. Reflection occurs because the EM field of the incoming radiation causes oscillations. Electrons in the material receiving light jiggle as it hits them, making them each secondary emitters of radiation and they re-emit light (effectively seems like bouncing off). Glass and water both have different refractive indices than air, so when there's an interface between air and water or between air and glass, you get a reflection. This is why you see reflections off glass or off the water, or other materials that are normally transparent. This emitted radiation goes both into the substrate and back into the original medium, with the net sum of all of the secondary emissions forming the reflected and refracted rays, respectively.






            share|cite|improve this answer









            $endgroup$



            Reflection usually happens because of a change in refractive index. Reflection occurs because the EM field of the incoming radiation causes oscillations. Electrons in the material receiving light jiggle as it hits them, making them each secondary emitters of radiation and they re-emit light (effectively seems like bouncing off). Glass and water both have different refractive indices than air, so when there's an interface between air and water or between air and glass, you get a reflection. This is why you see reflections off glass or off the water, or other materials that are normally transparent. This emitted radiation goes both into the substrate and back into the original medium, with the net sum of all of the secondary emissions forming the reflected and refracted rays, respectively.







            share|cite|improve this answer












            share|cite|improve this answer



            share|cite|improve this answer










            answered 1 hour ago









            Exp ikxExp ikx

            319115




            319115























                1












                $begingroup$

                As a general answer, waves reflect at discontinuities in the velocity of propagation. This is also true for a pulse on a string, for example at a knot where ropes of different densities are joined together. Or at a mass that is fixed on the string.






                share|cite|improve this answer









                $endgroup$


















                  1












                  $begingroup$

                  As a general answer, waves reflect at discontinuities in the velocity of propagation. This is also true for a pulse on a string, for example at a knot where ropes of different densities are joined together. Or at a mass that is fixed on the string.






                  share|cite|improve this answer









                  $endgroup$
















                    1












                    1








                    1





                    $begingroup$

                    As a general answer, waves reflect at discontinuities in the velocity of propagation. This is also true for a pulse on a string, for example at a knot where ropes of different densities are joined together. Or at a mass that is fixed on the string.






                    share|cite|improve this answer









                    $endgroup$



                    As a general answer, waves reflect at discontinuities in the velocity of propagation. This is also true for a pulse on a string, for example at a knot where ropes of different densities are joined together. Or at a mass that is fixed on the string.







                    share|cite|improve this answer












                    share|cite|improve this answer



                    share|cite|improve this answer










                    answered 1 hour ago









                    PieterPieter

                    7,74631431




                    7,74631431























                        0












                        $begingroup$

                        It's because transparent materials aren't fully transparent; they let most of the light through (and this is refracted); and the light which isn't let though, is reflected.






                        share|cite|improve this answer









                        $endgroup$













                        • $begingroup$
                          How would this answer the question?
                          $endgroup$
                          – Pieter
                          1 hour ago
















                        0












                        $begingroup$

                        It's because transparent materials aren't fully transparent; they let most of the light through (and this is refracted); and the light which isn't let though, is reflected.






                        share|cite|improve this answer









                        $endgroup$













                        • $begingroup$
                          How would this answer the question?
                          $endgroup$
                          – Pieter
                          1 hour ago














                        0












                        0








                        0





                        $begingroup$

                        It's because transparent materials aren't fully transparent; they let most of the light through (and this is refracted); and the light which isn't let though, is reflected.






                        share|cite|improve this answer









                        $endgroup$



                        It's because transparent materials aren't fully transparent; they let most of the light through (and this is refracted); and the light which isn't let though, is reflected.







                        share|cite|improve this answer












                        share|cite|improve this answer



                        share|cite|improve this answer










                        answered 3 hours ago









                        Mozibur UllahMozibur Ullah

                        4,89132251




                        4,89132251












                        • $begingroup$
                          How would this answer the question?
                          $endgroup$
                          – Pieter
                          1 hour ago


















                        • $begingroup$
                          How would this answer the question?
                          $endgroup$
                          – Pieter
                          1 hour ago
















                        $begingroup$
                        How would this answer the question?
                        $endgroup$
                        – Pieter
                        1 hour ago




                        $begingroup$
                        How would this answer the question?
                        $endgroup$
                        – Pieter
                        1 hour ago











                        0












                        $begingroup$

                        It is a property of waves that when they meet an interface, where the medium through which they travel changes, some of the wave is reflected from the interface and some of the wave is transmitted through the interface.



                        In the case of light it is a change in the refractive index (related to the speed of light in the medium) which produces a reflected and a transmitted wave.



                        All other things being equal a greater amount of reflection occurs at an air/glass interface than at an air/water interface because the difference in refractive index at the air(n=1)/glass(n=1.5) interface is greater than for the air(n=1)/water(n=1.33) interface.



                        Note that a light wave traveling in a medium of higher refractive index than the refractive index of the medium on the other side of the interface can be totally internally reflected if the angle of incidence exceeds the critical angle.






                        share|cite|improve this answer









                        $endgroup$


















                          0












                          $begingroup$

                          It is a property of waves that when they meet an interface, where the medium through which they travel changes, some of the wave is reflected from the interface and some of the wave is transmitted through the interface.



                          In the case of light it is a change in the refractive index (related to the speed of light in the medium) which produces a reflected and a transmitted wave.



                          All other things being equal a greater amount of reflection occurs at an air/glass interface than at an air/water interface because the difference in refractive index at the air(n=1)/glass(n=1.5) interface is greater than for the air(n=1)/water(n=1.33) interface.



                          Note that a light wave traveling in a medium of higher refractive index than the refractive index of the medium on the other side of the interface can be totally internally reflected if the angle of incidence exceeds the critical angle.






                          share|cite|improve this answer









                          $endgroup$
















                            0












                            0








                            0





                            $begingroup$

                            It is a property of waves that when they meet an interface, where the medium through which they travel changes, some of the wave is reflected from the interface and some of the wave is transmitted through the interface.



                            In the case of light it is a change in the refractive index (related to the speed of light in the medium) which produces a reflected and a transmitted wave.



                            All other things being equal a greater amount of reflection occurs at an air/glass interface than at an air/water interface because the difference in refractive index at the air(n=1)/glass(n=1.5) interface is greater than for the air(n=1)/water(n=1.33) interface.



                            Note that a light wave traveling in a medium of higher refractive index than the refractive index of the medium on the other side of the interface can be totally internally reflected if the angle of incidence exceeds the critical angle.






                            share|cite|improve this answer









                            $endgroup$



                            It is a property of waves that when they meet an interface, where the medium through which they travel changes, some of the wave is reflected from the interface and some of the wave is transmitted through the interface.



                            In the case of light it is a change in the refractive index (related to the speed of light in the medium) which produces a reflected and a transmitted wave.



                            All other things being equal a greater amount of reflection occurs at an air/glass interface than at an air/water interface because the difference in refractive index at the air(n=1)/glass(n=1.5) interface is greater than for the air(n=1)/water(n=1.33) interface.



                            Note that a light wave traveling in a medium of higher refractive index than the refractive index of the medium on the other side of the interface can be totally internally reflected if the angle of incidence exceeds the critical angle.







                            share|cite|improve this answer












                            share|cite|improve this answer



                            share|cite|improve this answer










                            answered 14 mins ago









                            FarcherFarcher

                            48.3k33797




                            48.3k33797






















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