Why can Elsa see her reflection in a mirror?

• A. The image is formed by the mirror absorbing light and re-emitting it to form the image.
• B. The mirror emits its own light to create the image.
• C. Light waves are reflected from the surface back into Elsa's eyes, allowing her to see herself.
• D. The mirror refracts light to create a virtual image.

Answer: (C)

Seeing a reflection comes from light bouncing off the mirror. Light from Elsa’s body travels to the mirror, hits the shiny surface, and reflects back toward her eyes. Those reflected rays are what she detects, forming the image of herself. A plane mirror doesn’t emit its own light or rely on absorbing and re‑emitting light to create an image; it redirects incoming light. Refraction describes bending light as it passes between materials, not the main process in a standard mirror. So the image you see is produced by light reflecting off the mirror into your eyes.