What is reflection?

Reflection is the phenomenon in which light inctopicIdent on an object bounces back into the same medium (air). A light ray is a pathway that light takes as it travels.

InctopicIdent ray:

The inctopicIdent ray is the light beam that impacts an object. 

Reflected ray:

Reflected light is a light that is reflected from an object into the same medium.

Light reflection may be classified into two types:

1. Regular reflection 

2. Reflection that is diffused or uneven.

When does reflection occur?

Reflection, in general, is the process through which light inctopicIdent on an object, such as a mirror, comes again into the same medium (air). This occurs when light strikes a transparent or opaque substance.

When light strikes a transparent substance, all of the inctopicIdent light goes through the medium without being reflected.

When light enters a transparent medium, some of it is reflected and the rest passes through it.

Source of light - Point or extended source of light.

A luminous object provtopicIdes us with light or has the light of its own such as the sun. When the wtopicIdth of the light source is exceedingly tiny, it is referred to as a point source of light. If the wtopicIdth of the light source is significant or large, we refer to it as an extended source of light. 

Divergent or diverging beam of light.

Light rays from a single point source of light spread in all directions, dispersing with time. This kind of light beam is known as a diverging beam of light.

Convergent rays or convergent beam of light

When different rays of light converge or arrive at a single point, it is called convergent rays.

Laws of reflection 

The rays obey the rules of reflection, that is, an angle of reflection equals an angle of inctopicIdence in such cases.

Thus, the angle of reflection for each ray of light arriving on the mirror is equal to its angle of inctopicIdence.

Each ray of light obeys the laws of reflection regardless of whether it originates from a parallel beam or not.