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A window reflects light because light, which is a wave, travels slower in glass than in air. It travels at about 2/3 the speed in glass as it does in air.

Also light travels at about 3/4 the speed in water as it does in air and so that is the reason light reflects off the surface of water.

The greater the difference in speed between the two mediums, the more light is reflected at the surface boundary.

An amazing experiment is to submerge glass in a transparent liquid that has the same "index of refraction". The 'index of refraction" of a substance is simply the measure of the speed with which light travels in the substance. If you submerge the glass, and the speed of light is the same in the liquid as in the glass, the glass seems to disappear. The reason is seems to disappear is because light is no longer reflected off the surface of the glass, and if you think about it, that is the only reason that you can see a glass in the first place.

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16y ago

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Related Questions

How does light interact with a window?

Light can pass through a window, be reflected off its surface, or be absorbed by any materials covering the window. When light passes through a window, it can be refracted or diffracted depending on the angle and thickness of the glass, creating patterns or colors. The material and coatings on the window can also affect how much light is transmitted or blocked.


Reflection in a window at night?

The image you see the the reflection of light from the object into your eyes. During the day time, light from the object incident and reflect to your eyes as well as light from the outside refract to your eyes. Therefore, you barely notice the image. At night, however, there is no source of light from the window outside. As a result, there is only light from the object(yourself) reflect back to your eyes. Hence, your image is visible on the window at night.


Would a clear piece of glass or a tinted window reflect light the best?

A clear piece of glass would reflect light better than a tinted window because it has a smoother surface that allows for more efficient reflection of light. Tinted windows can absorb or reduce the amount of light that passes through them, leading to less reflection compared to clear glass.


Do windows reflect light during the day?

Yes, windows reflect light during the day. The glass surface can reflect sunlight and other light sources, which can create glare or reflections that may be seen from outside or inside the building. The degree of reflection depends on factors such as the angle of the sun, the type of glass, and any coatings applied to the window.


If you can see yourself in a window what behavior of waves is responsible for that?

The behavior of reflection is responsible for seeing yourself in a window. Light waves from your image reflect off the glass surface of the window and back to your eyes so that you can see your reflection.


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