Which characteristic describes the behavior of light rays in a plane mirror?

The correct choice indicates that light rays reflect at equal angles to the optical axis. This behavior is a fundamental principle of reflection in optics, specifically described by the law of reflection. According to this law, when a light ray strikes a plane mirror, the angle of incidence (the angle between the incoming ray and the normal, an imaginary perpendicular line to the surface at the point of contact) is equal to the angle of reflection (the angle between the reflected ray and the normal).

In a plane mirror, the surface is flat, so this principle holds true uniformly across the mirror’s surface. This means that no matter where light strikes the mirror, it will reflect back at the same angle relative to the normal. This results in a clear reflection regardless of the position of the light source.

The other characteristics do not apply to the behavior of light in a plane mirror. Light does not converge at a focal point in the case of plane mirrors; that concept applies more to concave mirrors where parallel rays can indeed converge. Additionally, light rays do not diverge as they pass the mirror; instead, they reflect off and remain parallel unless specifically altered by other optical devices. Lastly, a plane mirror primarily reflects light rather than absorbing it, which is why we