Why Isn't a Mirror the Same as a White Surface?

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Raza
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Hi,
I have a question,
If a smooth white surface reflects all light, then why isn't my mirror basically a white surface?
How come a white surface act as a mirror?

Also, I keep hearing about photons being light packets, but I heard that light is an electromagnetic wave, so how can I out the two together?

In my brain, I picture a light as a wave line pointing in one area, photons gives me a different picture of that.
 

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Raza said:
If a smooth white surface reflects all light, then why isn't my mirror basically a white surface?
How come a white surface act as a mirror?
A white surface reflects light in all directions (diffuse reflection), whereas a mirror reflects light in the same direction at every point (specular reflection). The white surface is not really that smooth.
 

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