Question

Study the following incident.

Swara and Yash were looking in a water-filled vessel. They could see their images clearly in the still water. At that instant, Yash threw a stone in the water. Now their images were blurred. Swara could not understand the reason for the blurring of the images.

Explain the reason for the blurring of the images to Swara by answering the following questions.

1. Is there a relation between the reflection of light and the blurring of the images?
2. Which types of reflection of light can you notice from this?
3. Are laws of reflection followed in these types of reflection?

Answer 1

1. Yes, there is a relation between the reflection of light and blurring of the images.
2. Initially, the water was still and its surface was smooth. Thus, regular type of reflection was taking place from its surface i.e. all the light rays coming from Swara's body or Yash's body reflected in the same direction on hitting the water surface and reached our eyes. Because of this, we saw a clear image. 
   But when Yash threw a stone in the water, the water surface became rough due to which irregular type of reflection of light occurred on its surface i.e all the light rays coming from Swara's body or Yash's body reflected in different directions on hitting the water surface. Thus, only some part of the reflected rays reached our eyes. Because of this, we see a blurred image.
3. Yes, laws of reflection are followed in both types of reflection.