No real surface behaves in exactly this way, although some surfaces approach it. Intensity distribution of light reflected from a perfectly diffuse (Lambertian) surface, showing proportion of reflected light within 5° of each indicated direction. More often, because highlights from most surfaces do not alter the spectral distribution of incident light, specular reflection provides information about the color of the source of light rather than that of the surface.įIGURE 9. They also reflect diffusely from within but do so selectively with wavelength so that the specular reflection is seen to be tinged with the color of the diffuse component. In particular, highly polished surfaces of metals such as gold, steel, silver, and copper reflect specularly. #SPECULAR REFLECTION FREE#If free of dust and suitably framed, the surface of an even less than ideal real mirror is not perceived at all instead, the virtual image of an object located physically in front of the mirror is seen as if positioned behind.Īlthough specular reflectance seldom provides information about the color of a surface, there are exceptions. An ideal mirror reflects all incident light nonselectively with wavelength. Boynton, in Encyclopedia of Physical Science and Technology (Third Edition), 2003 IV.A Specular and Diffuse ReflectanceĪ familiar example of specular reflectance is provided by a plane mirror, in which the angles of light incidence and reflectance are equal. The measurement technique of x-ray reflectivity exploits specular reflectivity to study thin films and interfaces with sub-nanometer resolution, using either modern laboratory sources or synchrotron x-rays.Robert M. In addition to visible light, specular reflection can be observed in the ionospheric reflection of radiowaves and the reflection of radio- or microwave radar signals by flying objects. For example, the image of a right shoe will look like a left shoe.Ī classic example of specular reflection is a mirror, which is specifically designed for specular reflection. More specifically a mirror changes the handedness of the coordinate system, one axis of the coordinate system appears to be reversed, and the chirality of the image may change. The reversal of directions, or lack thereof, depends on how the directions are defined. #SPECULAR REFLECTION DRIVER#Similarly a car turning left will still appear to be turning left in the rear view mirror for the driver of a car in front of it. If a flat mirror is mounted on the ceiling it can appear to reverse up and down if a person stands under it and looks up at it. In many cases, the image in a mirror appears to be reversed from left to right. The reversal of images by a plane mirror is perceived differently depending on the circumstances.
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