What does the law of reflection state?

The law of reflection states that the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection. This means that when a wave, such as light or sound, strikes a reflective surface, the angle at which it arrives (incident angle) is the same as the angle at which it leaves (reflected angle), measured from the normal line—an imaginary line perpendicular to the surface at the point of incidence.

This principle applies universally to all types of reflective surfaces, including mirrors and calm water. Understanding this law is crucial in fields such as optics, acoustics, and even engineering, where the direction of waves is important for designing effective systems. The concept is fundamental to predicting how waves behave upon hitting reflective surfaces and helps in applications like designing optical devices and soundproofing materials.