How do mirrors actually work to reflect images?

Question

I know that mirrors reflect light, but how do they actually show us a clear image of ourselves or other objects? What’s happening at the microscopic level to create that reflection?

In: Physics

Answer 1

Essentially when light hits the smooth surface of the mirror, they bounce off in a uniform manner instead of scattering in random directions. Because the light is reflected in a consistent manner, your eyes process this as the image you see.