What can be said about energy values when discussing conservation of energy in reflection at an oblique angle?

The principle of conservation of energy states that the total energy in a closed system remains constant over time. When discussing reflection at an oblique angle, this principle asserts that although energy may change forms—such as from kinetic energy to potential energy or vice versa—no energy is lost from the system as a whole.

In the context of reflection, whether it is of waves, such as sound or light, or other forms of energy, when a wave encounters a boundary at an oblique angle, it reflects while conserving total energy. This means that the total energy before and after the reflection remains the same, even if individual energy components may be redistributed.

Thus, saying that total energy must remain constant aligns perfectly with the laws of physics, specifically the conservation of energy. Therefore, the correct answer appropriately captures the idea that while individual energy forms may change, the overall energy remains conserved during the reflection process.