Scattering is a general physical process where some forms of
radiation, such as
light,
sound, or moving particles, are forced to deviate from a straight
trajectory by one or more paths due to localized non-uniformities in the medium through which they pass. In conventional use, this also includes deviation of reflected radiation from the angle predicted by the
law of reflection. Reflections that undergo scattering are often called
diffuse reflections and unscattered reflections are called
specular (mirror-like) reflections.