What does the reflected ray describe?

The reflected ray describes a ray that travels back from the object. In the context of reflection, when light strikes a reflective surface (such as a mirror), it bounces off that surface, changing direction. This bouncing effect is governed by the law of reflection, which states that the angle of incidence (the angle at which the incoming ray strikes the surface) is equal to the angle of reflection (the angle at which the reflected ray departs from the surface).

This concept is crucial in understanding how images are formed in mirrors and how we perceive objects. The reflected ray essentially conveys the direction in which light moves after interacting with a surface, which is why it represents light that travels back from the object.

Other options refer to various interactions with light and objects, such as traveling towards the object (which describes the incident ray), passing through the object (associated with transparent materials), or bending around the object (related to diffraction or refraction). None of these describe the reflected ray correctly as they involve different phenomena or processes.