How Does a Mirror Actually Reflect an Image?

Imagine you're looking at a mirror, and it shows your face. But how does it know what to show? It's like the mirror is copying you, but not just on the outside! When light from your face hits the mirror, it bounces back, helping you see yourself as if you're standing in front of it. Mirrors use light to help you see your reflection, and that’s why they work so well.

The surface of a mirror is smooth and shiny, which means light doesn’t just go through it, it bounces off, or reflects. When the light bounces back, your eyes receive it, and then your brain makes sense of what you see. That’s how you look at yourself in the mirror every day!