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  • Diffuse Reflection: How Light Bounces Off Rough Surfaces
    When parallel rays of light hit a rough or bumpy surface, they undergo diffuse reflection. Here's what happens:

    * Scattering: Instead of reflecting in a single direction like they would on a smooth surface, the rays scatter in many different directions. This is because the bumps and irregularities on the surface cause the light to be reflected at different angles.

    * No Image Formation: Since the rays are scattered, they don't converge at a single point, so no clear image is formed. This is why we can't see our reflection in a rough surface like a wall or a piece of cloth.

    * Matte Appearance: The scattered light creates a diffuse, non-shiny appearance. This is why rough surfaces look matte or dull.

    Here are some examples of diffuse reflection:

    * A wall: The rough texture of a wall scatters light, making it look dull.

    * A piece of cloth: The fibers of the cloth create a rough surface that scatters light, giving it a matte appearance.

    * A sheet of paper: Paper has a rough surface that scatters light, making it look white.

    In contrast to diffuse reflection, smooth surfaces like mirrors cause specular reflection, where parallel rays of light are reflected in a single direction, creating a clear image.

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