**Reflection: The Phenomenon of Sending Light Back into the Same Medium**

**Introduction:**
Reflection is a phenomenon in which incident light falling on a surface is sent back into the same medium. It occurs when light encounters a boundary between two different mediums and is either partially or completely turned back. The angle at which the light is reflected depends on the angle at which it strikes the surface, as well as the nature of the surface itself.

**Explanation:**
When light strikes a surface, three things can happen: it can be absorbed, transmitted, or reflected. In the case of reflection, the light is sent back into the same medium without being absorbed or transmitted through the surface. This phenomenon is governed by the laws of reflection.

**Laws of Reflection:**
The laws of reflection describe the properties of reflected light. These laws are as follows:

1. The Incident Ray: The incident ray is the incoming ray of light that strikes the surface. It travels in a straight line and intersects the surface at a point called the point of incidence.

2. The Normal: The normal is a line drawn perpendicular to the surface at the point of incidence. It acts as a reference line for measuring angles.

3. The Reflected Ray: The reflected ray is the ray of light that is sent back into the same medium after striking the surface. It follows the law of reflection, which states that the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection, measured with respect to the normal.

4. Angle of Incidence and Angle of Reflection: The angle of incidence is the angle between the incident ray and the normal, while the angle of reflection is the angle between the reflected ray and the normal. According to the law of reflection, these two angles are always equal.

Reflected light allows us to see objects. When light from a source falls on an object, it is reflected in different directions and reaches our eyes. Our brain processes this information, allowing us to perceive the object.

**Conclusion:**
Reflection is the phenomenon by which incident light falling on a surface is sent back into the same medium. It follows the laws of reflection, which describe the behavior of reflected light. Understanding reflection helps us explain how we see objects and how light interacts with different surfaces.