Final answer:
The law of reflection states that the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection. This principle applies to smooth surfaces, like those of a mirror, where incident light rays are reflected at specific equivalent angles relative to the normal.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer to the question of what the law of reflection states is a) The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection. This fundamental principle of optics is crucial for understanding how light behaves when it strikes a mirror or any reflective surface. The angles are measured from the normal, which is an imaginary line perpendicular to the surface at the point of incidence. This means that if a ray of light hits a surface at a certain angle relative to the normal, it will reflect off at the same angle on the other side of the normal.
Mirrors have a smooth surface that allows for clear reflections by following this law of reflection. Unlike smooth surfaces, a rough surface will diffuse the light because the incident rays are reflected at various angles, creating a diffused or scattered reflection.