|
Register | Forum Rules | Members List | Today's Posts | Search | Bookmark & Share |
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Science of Christmas lights
Here's a question for any physics majors out there.
I'm sitting here by my window with a string of Christmas lights and against the background of the darkness of night I notice that the lights reflect off the window panes. I can understanf how the light reflects off the inside of the glass, but how does it reflect off the far side? If I look closely there are two reflections on one pane of glass. The near surface and the far surface. Explain it to me. |
#2
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
|
#3
|
||||
|
||||
I always throufgt the reason behind Christmas lights was to put up so many bright lights that it will piss of all your neibors
Santa's naughty elf Jen |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
On reflection
Quote:
Leaving aside grandiose and over-complex definitions, all transparent material, whether glass, perspex, gasoline or even water, will act partly like a mirror seen at a suitable angle. If the angle between direct viewing ( e g 90* ) and the viewing direction is quite large, you will get some amount of reflection. ( Unsurprisingly, this is called " the Angle of Reflection " ). Of course you may also be still able to see through the material to see what is on the other side. If the viewing angle is relatively narrow, no reflection at all will happen. Hope that helps a bit. Last edited by Marine_N41_432; 12-30-2011 at 04:24 PM. Reason: amendment |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
You might find that the window is dual or triple pane glass, therefore giving you different reflective surfaces.
|
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Merry Christmas! | ahoj7720 | Freebies | 10 | 12-24-2013 01:04 PM |
Christmas Cheer | smc | General Discussion | 9 | 12-26-2011 12:01 AM |
Do U Like Christmas Or Hate? | LuvAmy | General Discussion | 19 | 09-14-2009 08:20 PM |