During the process of reflection, what is the angle of incidence in relation to the angle of reflection?

The concept of reflection in optics is governed by the law of reflection, which states that when a ray of light strikes a reflective surface, the angle of incidence is always equal to the angle of reflection. This means that if you measure the angle between the incoming ray and the normal (an imaginary line perpendicular to the surface at the point of incidence), that angle will be the same as the angle between the reflected ray and the normal.

This principle is fundamental to understanding how light interacts with surfaces, and it applies regardless of the nature of the surface, whether it is smooth or rough. The equality of the angles is crucial for various applications in optics, such as designing mirrors and understanding phenomena such as images in reflective surfaces.

Thus, the correct answer emphasizes this equality, underscoring the predictable nature of light behavior during reflection.