So I don't know a lot about physics but I was wondering why certain things cast a reflection and don't look white. As I understand white is made up of all colors so none is being absorbed. If none is absorbed and all reflected why doesn't everything cast a reflection. I know the answer is probably easy but I don't know it so...
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It is the properties of the surface. Some surfaces do not reflect an image, others scatter the light upon reflection. A white surface will reflect most of the incident light, but will not reflect it at the same angle as the incident, but at random angles.
A mirror does little scattering, and reflects well at the same angle to the normal as the incident ray.
A mirror does little scattering, and reflects well at the same angle to the normal as the incident ray.