Chapter 17.1, Problem 10SSC

To determine

To identify: The specular and diffuse reflecting surface from the given surfaces.

Answer to Problem 10SSC

The specular reflecting surfaces are polished metal, window glass, and smooth water surface.

The diffuse reflecting surfaces are rough metal, plastic milk jug, and ground glass.

Explanation of Solution

Given:

The given surfaces are:

Ground glass, rough metal, plastic milk jug, paper, polished metal, smooth water surface and window glass.

When the parallel light rays are incident on a surface such that the reflected rays are also parallel to each other and is reflected in the form of single ray back into the same medium, the reflection is known as specular reflection.

Hence, the specular reflecting surfaces are polished metal, window glass, and smooth water surface.

When the parallel light rays are incident on a surface such that the reflected rays are non parallel and are diffused in different directions, the reflection is known as specular reflection.

Hence, the diffuse reflecting surfaces are rough metal, plastic milk jug, and ground glass.