Specular reflection

Specular reflection, or regular reflection, is the <a href="/facts/Mirror/wMu4u6BB">mirror</a>-like <a href="/facts/Reflection_(physics)/BhcjDs79">reflection</a> of <a href="/facts/Wave/fU0HH6St">waves</a>, such as <a href="/facts/Light/jeofpMn4">light</a>, from a <a href="/facts/Surface/0XA8ce89">surface</a>. 
The law of reflection states that a reflected <a href="/facts/Ray_(optics)/PgUEC7Sm">ray</a> of light emerges from the reflecting surface at the same <a href="/facts/Angle/gFUTEQYq">angle</a> to the <a href="/facts/Surface_normal/jhtLIhcu">surface normal</a> as the incident ray, but on the opposing side of the surface normal in the plane formed by the incident and reflected rays. This behavior was first described by <a href="/facts/Hero_of_Alexandria/z1fSvztI">Hero of Alexandria</a> (<a href="/facts/Anno_Domini/NmQwnQNj">AD</a> c. 10–70). Later, <a href="/facts/Ibn_al-Haytham/Q5H9hm4J">Alhazen</a> gave a complete statement of the law of reflection. He was first to state that the incident ray, the reflected ray, and the normal to the surface all lie in a same plane perpendicular to reflecting plane.
Specular reflection may be contrasted with <a href="/facts/Diffuse_reflection/wG9w4tAX">diffuse reflection</a>, in which light is scattered away from the surface in a range of directions.

Specular reflection open-in-new

Specular reflection