Reflection

Light is a form of energy that enables us to see. It travels at a very high speed of 300 000 000 m/s. We are able to see things either because light from a luminous source enters our eyes or light is reflected off a non-luminous source into our eyes.
Light is a wave-particle (meaning that it possesses both wave-like and particle-like properties) and spreads as it moves away from its source. However, we approximate the light wave to travel in a straight line.

Reflection of Light

When a ray of light strikes any surface, it changes its direction of travel following the laws of reflection.

When the light strikes a smooth surface, the light rays reflects straight off the surface with the same angle as the incident angle.

When the light strikes a rough surface, the light rays bounces off each of the irregularity on the surface.