What phenomenon describes light bouncing back to its original location and creating a mirror image?

The phenomenon that describes light bouncing back to its original location and creating a mirror image is known as reflection. When light encounters a smooth surface, it reflects off that surface at the same angle at which it hits it. This is fundamental to the functioning of mirrors, which utilize this principle to produce clear images of objects. The law of reflection states that the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection, and this property allows us to see our own image when we look into a mirror.

In contrast, refraction involves the bending of light as it passes from one medium to another, altering its speed and direction. Diffraction occurs when light waves encounter an obstacle or a slit, causing the waves to spread out. Chromatism, or chromatic aberration, refers to the dispersion of light into different colors due to varying wavelengths being refracted at different angles. These phenomena are related to the behavior of light but do not result in the creation of a mirror image as reflection does.