What happens to light when it hits a smooth surface, such as a mirror?

When light strikes a smooth surface like a mirror, it undergoes reflection. This phenomenon occurs because the surface of the mirror is highly polished, allowing it to bounce back light at the same angle it arrived, following the law of reflection. This is why mirrors can create clear images; they reflect the light rays that hit them in such a way that the reflected rays converge to form a recognizable picture.

In contrast, refraction involves the bending of light as it passes from one medium to another with a different density, and absorption refers to the process where light is taken in by a material rather than reflected. Scattering is the random redirection of light rays when they strike rough surfaces, which does not occur with smooth surfaces like mirrors. Thus, the correct choice highlights how mirrors function to provide clear reflections through the principle of reflection.