What is the relationship between the angle of incidence and the surface it strikes?

The angle of incidence refers to the angle at which an incoming wave, such as light, strikes a surface. According to the law of reflection, when a wave strikes a reflective surface, the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection on the same side of the normal line (a line perpendicular to the surface at the point of incidence). This principle is a foundational concept in both optics and physics, demonstrating how light behaves when encountering different materials.

This relationship holds true regardless of other factors such as the type of surface or the medium from which the light originates. The equality of these angles is critical for understanding how images are formed in mirrors and helps explain various phenomena in optics. Thus, recognizing that the angle of incidence always equals the angle of reflection is key to grasping the behavior of light in reflective contexts.