How Does a Mirror ‘Know’ What It’s Reflecting?

Imagine you're standing in front of a mirror, and it shows your face perfectly. It doesn’t think, it just reflects what’s in front of it. Light bounces off your face and goes to the mirror, then comes back to your eyes so you can see yourself. A mirror is like a smart wall that knows exactly what to show.

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Examples

You look in the mirror, and it shows your face, just like a friend who always knows what you’re thinking.
A cat walks by a mirror, and it sees its reflection, as if there's another cat behind the glass.
When you wave at the mirror, it waves back, even though it doesn't really know how to wave.

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Categories: Physics · light,reflection,optics