It does not let the light shine through it. Therefore, the area behind your hand is dark, forming a shadow. Reflection Top of Page Some surfaces, like a mirror, cause the light to bounce off. The light bounces off, or reflects back, at the same angle that it hit the surface. The amount of light reflected depends on the type of surface.
Shiny surfaces reflect lots of light.
Dull surfaces reflect very little light. When you look in a mirror, you see yourself because the light shining on your body is reflected from the mirror back to your eyes. Refraction Top of Page When a light ray travels through a material the direction of the light will change. This is called refraction. The amount the light bends depends on the type of material.