Question

Does diffused reflection mean failure of the laws of reflection?

Answer 1

Hint:Reflection of light from a reflecting surface can be of two types – regular reflection or irregular reflection. Diffused reflection refers to irregular reflection which is caused due to the irregularities of the reflecting surface. The laws of reflection will be obeyed in all kinds of reflection.

Complete step by step answer.
Step 1: Try to explain the process of reflection in diffused reflection with suitable diagrams.
Diffused reflection of light, also known as irregular reflection, occurs when the reflecting surface is not smooth but rough and has irregularities.
Because of the uneven nature of the reflecting surface, the light rays will be incident at different angles and hence, the reflected rays will not be parallel to each other. This type of reflection where the light rays upon reflection are not parallel to one another is referred to as diffused reflection.
The figure given below shows the reflection of parallel rays of light from a rough surface.

The dotted line represents the normal at the point of incidence. As seen from the above figure, light is incident at different angles at different points on the surface.
However, the laws of reflection will be obeyed in this type of reflection. The laws of reflection require the angle of incidence and the angle of reflection to be the same and for the incident ray, the normal at the point of incidence and the reflected ray to all lie in the same plane. These two laws of reflection will be obeyed in a diffused reflection.
So to conclude, diffused reflection does not mean the failure of the laws of reflection.

Additional information: In regular reflection, the incident light rays will be parallel to one another and upon reflection at the smooth reflecting surface, they will remain to be parallel to one another. The figure given below depicts the reflection of parallel rays of light from a regular surface.