248 SCIENCE OF COMMON THINGS. 



Peculiarities of reflected light. 



they will proceed as if they had issued from a point a as far behind 

 the surface of the looking-glass, as A is before it that is to say, the dis- 

 tance A N will be equal to the distance a N. In seeing an object with 

 the eye, we fix upon its position according to the direction in which the 

 rays of light coming from it proceed, and do not take into account the 

 fact that the rays have been reflected from their original course. 



1651 Is the same quantity of light reflected at all angles, or inclina- 

 tions ? 



It is not : when the angle or inclination with which a 

 ray of light strikes upon a reflecting surface is great, 

 the amount of light reflected to the eye will be con- 

 siderable ; when the angle, or inclination is small, the 

 amount of light reflected will be diminished 



1653 Why does a spectator, standing upon the bank of a river, see the 

 images of the opposite bank, and objects upon it reflected in the water, but 

 not the images of any near object ? 



Because the rays of light coming from distant objects 

 strike the surface of the water very obliquely, and the 

 light reflected is sufficient to make a sensible impres- 

 sion upon the eye, while the light proceeding from 

 near objects strikes the water with little obliquity, and 

 the light reflected is not sufficient to make a sensible 

 impression upon the eye. 



Tliis fact may be clearly seen by reference to Fig. 56. 



Fig- 56. 



Let S be the position of the spectator ; O and B the position of distant 

 objects. The rays O R and B R which proceed from them, strike the 

 surface of the water very obliquely, and the light which is reflected in 

 the direction R S is sufficient to make a sensible impression upon the 

 eye. 



But in regard to objects such as A placed near the spectator, they are 

 not seen reflected, because the rays A R' which proceed from them strike 

 the water with but little obliquity ; and consequently, the part of their 



