Reflection Explained: Why Mirrors Show Perfect Images

A mirror works by reflecting light rays at the same angle they strike, a rule called the law of reflection.
Smooth surfaces reflect light uniformly, which is why mirrors give clear images, unlike rough walls.
The angle of incidence always equals the angle of reflection, no matter how the light strikes.
Mirrors don’t actually “flip” images left to right; they reverse front to back, changing perspective.
Plane mirrors produce virtual images that appear to be behind the mirror, even though no light comes from there.
Curved mirrors—concave or convex—bend light differently, creating magnified, reduced, or distorted reflections.
Every reflected image follows straight-line light paths that our brains interpret as coming from behind the glass.
Perfect reflection requires highly polished surfaces; even tiny scratches scatter light and blur the image.
Metals like silver and aluminum are commonly used for mirrors because they reflect most visible light.
Without mirrors, telescopes, cameras, and even lasers wouldn’t function as precisely as they do.