Which phenomenon occurs when light strikes a flat mirror?

Which phenomenon occurs when light strikes a flat mirror?

• A. Refraction
• B. Absorption
• C. Reflection
• D. Transmission

Answer: (C)

Light striking a flat mirror is reflected. Reflection means the light bounces off the surface instead of entering the material or passing through it. The angle at which the light hits the mirror (angle of incidence) equals the angle at which it leaves (angle of reflection), which is why you can see an image formed by the reflected rays coming from behind the mirror. Refraction would require light to bend as it passes into a different medium, which isn’t what happens at a mirror surface. Absorption would mean the light is taken up by the mirror, reducing brightness, and transmission would mean light passes through the material, neither of which explains the typical mirror image. Thus, the phenomenon is reflection.

Light striking a flat mirror is reflected. Reflection means the light bounces off the surface instead of entering the material or passing through it. The angle at which the light hits the mirror (angle of incidence) equals the angle at which it leaves (angle of reflection), which is why you can see an image formed by the reflected rays coming from behind the mirror. Refraction would require light to bend as it passes into a different medium, which isn’t what happens at a mirror surface. Absorption would mean the light is taken up by the mirror, reducing brightness, and transmission would mean light passes through the material, neither of which explains the typical mirror image. Thus, the phenomenon is reflection.