Light relects off a mirror. Light reflects off the white surface of a ceiling/wall. Why can you see images in a mirror but not in a ceiling or wall? I think it has something to do with the glass in the mirror, but I'm not sure...
Please see your later post, which I saw first.
Sra
You're correct! The ability to see images in a mirror but not in a ceiling or wall has to do with the way light interacts with different surfaces. Let me explain:
1. Reflection in a Mirror: Mirrors have a surface made of glass with a thin layer of metal, usually aluminum or silver, behind it. When light hits the glass surface, it undergoes two processes: reflection and transmission. Some of the light reflects off the glass, while the rest passes through it. However, when the light reaches the thin metal layer, it reflects back, creating a clear and undistorted reflection of the objects in front of the mirror. This process is known as "specular reflection," which allows us to see a detailed image in the mirror.
2. Reflection in a Ceiling or Wall: In the case of a white ceiling or wall, the surface reflects light, but it doesn't create a clear image like a mirror does. It's because white surfaces, unlike mirrors, have a diffuse reflection. Diffuse reflection scatters light in many directions rather than reflecting it back in a single direction. When light hits a white surface, it gets absorbed and scattered in various angles, thereby making it difficult for our eyes to discern a distinct image. Instead, we perceive these surfaces as uniformly bright.
To summarize, the difference lies in the type of reflection: mirrors have a reflective metallic layer that produces clear images through specular reflection, while white surfaces reflect light diffusely, making it hard to form discernible images.