UberJNell's Corner

To understand mirrors, we must first understand light. Light rays really are made up of little energy packages or particles known as photons, which react in different ways when they encounter certain objects. Photons might pass through an object such as a lens, become absorbed or partially absorbed by objects such as leaves on trees, or be reflected off non-transparent surfaces.



When light is reflected off most non-smooth surfaces, it becomes scattered. Because of this scattered reflection of light, the object can be seen. Objects are seen either because they reflect light or because they themselves emit light. As an example, we see the stars and the sun because they emit light and the moon because it reflects light.



Light rays that have encountered an object (your face, as an example) travel to and are reflected uniformly off the ultra smooth plane of a mirror in predictable, not irregular angles. Because the mirror’s surface is smooth and not irregular, a different type of reflection is created. You then see a “virtual” image of your face that appears to be somewhere within the mirror where it really isn’t.
 

That is very interesting, and I thank you for giving a detailed answered. However, I didn't ask how mirrors worked. The question was, how are they made? Are they like...aluminum foil under a piece of glass or something? Or, some sort process for making glass?

UberBrian
 

Yeah, they are somewhat like aluminum foil under glass. To make a mirror, all you do is allow liquid metal to condense on glass. It will form a thin reflective surface, and the glass will protect it. You can paint the metal on the other side to protect it if wished.