How Do Mirrors Reflect Light and Why Do We See Ourselves?

Mirrors make you see yourself because they bounce light back at you. When the light from your face hits a mirror, it bounces off and goes straight into your eyes, making you see yourself. It's like a game of tag, light tags you, then runs back to you so you can see it. Mirrors are smooth, so the light bounces in an orderly way, not all over the place. That’s why you always look the same in the mirror.

Take the quiz →

Examples

You see your face in the mirror because it bounces back the light from your face.
When you shine a flashlight on a wall, it’s scattered, like a messy game of tag. But on a mirror, it’s like playing tag with a friend who always goes back to you.
If you smile at the mirror, it smiles right back at you.

Ask a question

Discussion

Recent activity

Categories: Physics · Reflection,Light,Optics