On which type of surfaces is specular reflection most likely to occur?

Specular reflection occurs when light reflects off a smooth, shiny surface in a coherent manner, meaning the reflected light rays are organized and maintain their direction. Flat mirrors are designed to have a smooth, even reflective surface, allowing for almost perfect specular reflection. This quality is essential in creating clear and defined images, as the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection, allowing the light to bounce back at the same angle at which it hit the surface.

In contrast, wood surfaces, painted walls, and rough fabric have uneven textures that scatter light in various directions rather than reflecting it coherently. These materials are more likely to produce diffuse reflection, where the light disperses at many angles due to their roughness, making them unsuitable for generating clear reflections like those found in flat mirrors. Thus, the likelihood of specular reflection is highest on flat mirrors due to their smooth surface characteristics.