How are light waves reflected from a plane mirror?

Answer 1

The light can do four things: it can be absorbed by the atoms in the material it hits, it can pass through the material it hits, and it can be reflected off the material it hits. Finally, it can scatter the light sometimes when it hits an opaque object. It can also do combinations of these.

In general, light will reflect off of the surface, with the angle of incidence (measured from the line perpendicular to the surface) equal to the angle of reflection (measured from the same line).

If the material allow light to go through, light will usually also refract, that is, travel through the material but in a different direction than the direction it was going when it hit the plane surface. That direction is given by Snell's Law. However, in some cases -- when the angle of refraction is greater than 90 degrees -- no refraction is possible, and the light is only reflected.

Answer 2

They are reflected off at the same angle as they came in at but on the other side of the normal. Angle of incidence = angle of reflection

Answer 3

It is reflected from the mirrored surface at the same angle at which is hit the mirror.

Answer 4

The light reflect at the same angle with the incident angle.

Answer 5

It refracts the other way at an angle of 180-i° ("i" being the angle of incidence of the light ray to the mirror).

Answer 6

it reflects