How Does a ‘Mirror’ Work and Why Can’t We See Our Reflections in Some Surfaces?

Mirrors show our faces because they have special shiny surfaces. When light comes from you, it bounces off the mirror and goes back to your eyes, letting you see yourself. But not all things are as shiny, like a piece of paper or a wall, so you can’t always see reflections in them.

Take the quiz →

Examples

When you look into a mirror, your face appears because the mirror’s surface reflects the light coming from you. Smooth surface is key here.
A rough wall doesn’t show your reflection well, as it scatters the light instead of sending it back directly to your eyes.
Specular reflection happens in a smooth lake, on calm days, you can see yourself, but on windy days, the water becomes rough and no longer reflects clearly.

Ask a question

Discussion

Recent activity

Categories: Physics · Reflection,Optics,Surfaces