eli5: What is the difference between a mirror and a white object?

1.06K viewsOtherPhysics

I mean, what does a white object do? Absorbs nothing, reflects all light back.

What does a mirror do? Absorbs nothing, reflects all light back.

Having the same characteristics, how does a mirror reflect an image and a white object, a white texture?

In: Physics

18 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

White surfaces are rough, while mirrors are smooth.

That’s why the light gets reflected in all kinds of directions and all mixed together into white, while the mirror just reflects the rays back as they come in – a clear image.

You are viewing 1 out of 18 answers, click here to view all answers.