Question

What do you mean by multiple reflections?

Answer 1

Hint: In this question think of the concept of light rays being reflected multiple number of times back and forth. Think of the mirror maze, how multiple images are being formed of an individual object via the use of multiple mirrors, as these mirrors act as multiple reflecting surfaces for the light waves coming from the object.

Complete step-by-step answer:
The case of multiple reflections is shown above.

Consider that on the surface of a sea water there is some amount of oil present as shown in the figure the oil has some depth which is also shown.

So when the incoming rays from the sun (incident rays) first incident on the surface of the oil one part of the ray is refracted into the oil and the other part is reflected.

The part which is refracted when incident on the lower part of the oil it again reflected and refracted as shown in the figure, the refracted rays goes into the sea water.

And the reflected ray goes at the top of the oil surface and again reflects back and also refracted into the air as shown.

So the multiple reflections are caused in the oil as shown in the figure.

Multiple reflection of light is the reflection of light back and forth through reflecting surfaces several times. When the reflection of a reflected light ray on another object is mirrored again, it is called multiple reflections.

As the surface of the oil is smooth so the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection but does not equal to the angle of refraction as shown in the figure.
So this is the required answer.

Note: Total internal reflection can also be considered as an example of multiple reflections. The reflecting interface in this case acts as bifurcation between two different dense mediums. The concept of multiple reflection is also used in Kaleidoscope and even in Periscope.