Regular scattering happens when light bounces off a smooth, curved surface in a predictable way, creating a clear and undistorted image.
Think about a spoon in a glass of water. The smooth, curved surface of the spoon predictably bends the light, making the spoon appear slightly bent or magnified. This is an example of regular scattering.
Regular scattering often occurs when parallel rays of light hit smooth, transparent objects like raindrops or prisms. In these cases, the light bends (refracts) in a predictable way depending on the angle it hits the object and the materials involved.
Let’s look at two cases of regular scattering in more detail:
When parallel rays of light with a single wavelength strike and enter an object like a raindrop or prism, their path depends on the initial point of impact, the refractive indices of air and water, and the object’s surface properties.
When parallel rays of incident light with a single wavelength meet the curved surface of a transparent medium at various points, the different angles at which they strike the surface and experience deflection mainly determine how they scatter as they exit the medium.