How Do Mirrors Work Exactly? π
How Do Mirrors Work Exactly? π Introductionπ Ever stopped to think about a mirror and how it captures your image so perfectly? At heart, mirrors operate by bouncing light rays back in a very specific, predictable pattern, creating the illusion of an image positioned right behind the glass. This all hinges on something called the law of reflection, where the angle at which light strikes the surface matches the angle at which it bounces off—both measured from an imaginary line straight perpendicular to the mirror. According to experts at Britannica, today's mirrors achieve their sharpness thanks to a super-thin coating of metal, usually silver or aluminum, layered onto glass, which keeps light from getting absorbed or scattered away. If the surface isn't smooth enough—down to scales finer than the light waves we see—the reflection turns fuzzy, much like what happens with a bumpy wall. Digging into how mirrors function opens up their role in everything from your morning rou...