As used in the laws of reflection and refraction, the "normal" direction is:
A)any convenient direction
B)tangent to the interface
C)along the incident ray
D)perpendicular to the electric field vector of the light
E)perpendicular to the interface

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The "normal" direction in the laws of reflection and refraction refers to a line perpendicular to the interface between two media. Therefore, the best choice is E, which states that the normal direction is perpendicular to the interface. Choice D is incorrect because it refers to the electric field vector, which is not necessarily related to the normal direction. Choices A, B, and C are also incorrect because they do not specify a direction that is perpendicular to the interface.

As Used in the Laws of Reflection and Refraction, the "Normal