What is known as the incident ray?

The incident ray is defined as the ray of light that strikes a surface, such as a mirror. It is the incoming light that interacts with the surface before being reflected, refracted, or absorbed. When a ray of light makes contact with a surface, the angle at which it hits that surface is critical in determining how it behaves afterward, either being reflected or transmitted. In this context, recognizing that it is the ray approaching the surface clarifies its role in understanding the behavior of light.

The other options refer to different concepts related to light. The reflected ray is what bounces off the surface; a ray that is absorbed does not leave the surface at all and dissipates instead; and the ray emerging from a lens pertains to refraction, which occurs when light passes through a transparent medium rather than reflecting off a surface. This understanding highlights the specific importance of the incident ray in the study of optics.