Final answer:
Light waves are represented as straight lines, known as rays, in the ray model of light used in geometric optics, which includes laws of reflection and refraction.
Step-by-step explanation:
To show how light travels and reflects, you can represent light waves as straight lines called rays. The path of light as straight lines is a key idea in the ray model of light, which is an aspect of geometric optics.
Light can travel directly from a source, through various media, or after being reflected by a mirror. In each case, the light moves in straight lines and may change direction upon encountering different materials or reflections.
This behavior is governed by geometric principles and can be understood using geometry and simple trigonometry.
The study of how light interacts with matter and changes direction includes the law of reflection and the law of refraction, which make up important parts of geometric optics.