Final answer:
Light falling on a smooth and polished surface will mostly be reflected. This is because smooth surfaces can reflect light at specific angles according to the law of reflection. Rough surfaces on the other hand scatter light, enabling us to view the object from different angles.
Step-by-step explanation:
When light falls on a smooth and polished surface, most of it will be reflected. This is due to the fact that smooth surfaces, like mirrors, possess the ability to reflect light at specific angles. For instance, as per the law of reflection, when a light ray strikes a smooth surface, the angle of reflection equals the angle of incidence. On the other hand, light behaves differently when it encounters a rough surface. It diffuses or scatters, allowing us to see the object from all angles. This can be seen with objects such as paper, leaves, or clothing which are visible from multiple perspectives due to their rough surfaces. However, the concept of refraction, which is when the light ray changes direction as it passes through different media, does not apply in this scenario since the ray does not pass through the smooth and polished surface, but rather reflects off of it. Similarly, not much of this light is absorbed by the surface, nor does it pass through it in substantial quantities.
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