When light scatters from a rough surface, the law
A) does not hold.
B) holds on average, with reflected light from the surface leaving in the average direction of reflection.
C) applies to each small relatively flat area of surface individually.
D) applies only when the particle aspect of light predominates.
E) applies only when the wavelength of light is greater than 800 nm but less than 2000 nm.

Question

When light scatters from a rough surface, the law 
A) does not hold. 
B) holds on average, with reflected light from the surface leaving in the average direction of reflection. 
C) applies to each small relatively flat area of surface individually. 
D) applies only when the particle aspect of light predominates. 
E) applies only when the wavelength of light is greater than 800 nm but less than 2000 nm.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When light scatters from a rough surface, the surface can be treated as a collection of very small, relatively flat areas. The law of reflection applies to each of these small areas individually, and the scattered light leaves the surface in multiple directions based on the orientation of each area. This is known as diffuse reflection or scattering, and it is responsible for the appearance of matte or rough surfaces. So, option C is the best choice.

When Light Scatters from a Rough Surface, the Law