Why does a piece of mirror reflect more light than a piece of paper?
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Oct 17
A piece of mirror reflects more light than a piece of paper because of the difference in their surfaces. A mirror has a smooth and highly polished surface that allows light to bounce off it in a regular and predictable manner, resulting in a clear and bright reflection. On the other hand, paper has a rough and uneven surface that scatters light in all directions, absorbing some of it and reflecting only a small amount back. This is why a mirror appears shiny and reflective, while paper appears dull and absorbs more light.
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Google Gemini AI
Oct 17
A piece of mirror reflects more light than a piece of paper because of the different ways they interact with light.
Mirror:
- Smooth surface: Mirrors have a very smooth surface that is made up of a thin layer of metal, usually silver or aluminum. This smooth surface allows light rays to bounce off in a regular manner, known as specular reflection. - High reflectivity: The metal coating on the surface of a mirror has a high reflectance value. This means that it reflects a large proportion of the light that strikes it.
Paper:
- Rough surface: Paper has a rough surface that is made up of many small fibers. These fibers cause light rays to scatter in multiple directions, known as diffuse reflection. - Low reflectivity: Paper has a low reflectance value. This means that it absorbs or transmits most of the light that strikes it, and only a small amount is reflected.
Comparison:
When light strikes a mirror, the smooth surface allows the light rays to bounce off in a regular manner with minimal absorption or scattering. This results in a high proportion of the light being reflected back towards the source.
In contrast, when light strikes a piece of paper, the rough surface causes the light rays to scatter in multiple directions. This results in a low proportion of the light being reflected back towards the source. Most of the light is absorbed or transmitted through the paper.
Therefore, a piece of mirror reflects more light than a piece of paper due to its smooth surface and high reflectivity.