When light hits a surface, it can be reflected, absorbed, or transmitted. The amount of light that is reflected depends on the surface's roughness. A smooth surface will reflect light evenly, while a rough surface will scatter light in all directions. This is because the peaks and valleys of a rough surface cause the light to be reflected at different angles.

The scattering of light by a rough surface is called diffuse reflection. Diffuse reflection is what gives objects their color. When you see a red object, it is because the object is absorbing all of the colors of light except for red light. The red light is reflected back to your eyes, and you perceive the object as being red.

The amount of diffuse reflection that occurs depends on the wavelength of the light and the size of the surface irregularities. Shorter wavelengths of light, such as blue light, are scattered more easily than longer wavelengths of light, such as red light. This is why the sky appears blue during the day. The blue light from the sun is scattered by the molecules in the atmosphere, while the red light is transmitted through the atmosphere and reaches our eyes.

The size of the surface irregularities also affects the amount of diffuse reflection that occurs. Smaller irregularities scatter light more evenly than larger irregularities. This is why a smooth surface appears shinier than a rough surface.

In general, light does not bounce off evenly rough surfaces. The scattering of light by rough surfaces is called diffuse reflection, and it is what gives objects their color.