What type of reflection occurs on a smooth surface such as a mirror?

When light rays strike a smooth surface, such as a mirror, they undergo regular reflection, which is also known as specular reflection. This type of reflection occurs because the surface is very smooth at the scale of the wavelength of light, allowing the light rays to reflect at specific angles.

In regular reflection, incident light rays all reflect off the surface in a predictable manner, following the law of reflection, which states that the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection. This predictable behavior of light allows mirrors to create clear and well-defined images, which is why we see ourselves clearly in them.

Other types of reflection, such as diffuse reflection, occur on rough surfaces, where the light is scattered in many directions, resulting in less clear images. Scattered and random reflections involve irregular surfaces or various angles of reflection that cause the light to disperse in a nondirectional way, leading to a loss of image clarity or definition.