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-   -   Light reflection (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=583478)

  • Jun 22, 2011, 05:30 PM
    nykkyo
    Light reflection
    If the light intermingles with the mirror, then how much energy is lost in the reflection? Also, if E=h/lambda and h is constant, then the speed of light must change.
  • Jun 22, 2011, 06:45 PM
    jcaron2
    There's definitely always a finite amount of energy lost in the mirror due to the intermingling. The best mirrors, which I believe are dielectrics tuned to very, very specific wavelengths, are around 99% efficient. A typical bathroom mirror is much more lossy than that.

    And yes, the speed of light does change within a medium other than free space. The change in speed is what's responsible for refraction.
  • Jun 22, 2011, 10:37 PM
    nykkyo
    Again.
    Thanks
  • Jun 23, 2011, 12:43 AM
    nykkyo
    Do you mean the reflected wave is emitted by the quantum junps of the electrons changing energy levels, in the atom?
  • Jun 23, 2011, 05:13 AM
    jcaron2
    I'm not really sure. It may ultimately come down to that, but I think the process is significantly more complicated, involving photon-phonon interaction and all that good stuff. I'm sure if you Google it, you can find way more info than I would know.

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