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Smooth surfaces reflect light better than rough ones.

Physics - Reflection (AQA)

Explore how light reflects from mirrors and rough surfaces, use the law of reflection in ray diagrams, and understand how images form in GCSE Physics questions.

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Fascinating Fact:

Specular reflection is from smooth surfaces and gives clear images. Diffuse reflection is from rough surfaces and scatters light in many directions.

In GCSE Science Physics, you learn how light reflects from surfaces, how to draw accurate ray diagrams and how specular and diffuse reflection affect the clarity of images in mirrors and objects.

Key Terms

Reflection: When light bounces off a surface instead of passing through or being absorbed.
Angle of incidence: The angle between the incoming ray and the normal line at the surface.
Diffuse reflection: Reflection from a rough surface that scatters light in many directions.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What is reflection in GCSE Physics?

In GCSE Physics, reflection is the process where light rays hit a surface and bounce off, allowing us to see objects and images in mirrors and shiny materials.

What is the law of reflection?

The law of reflection states that the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection, when both angles are measured from the normal drawn at the surface.

How do specular and diffuse reflection differ?

Specular reflection from a smooth surface keeps rays in regular directions, giving a sharp image, while diffuse reflection scatters rays so no clear image is seen.

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .

A sound wave hits a brick wall at 36^o from the normal. At what angle does it reflect?

126^o

63^o

54^o

36^o

Remember the Law of Reflection...

2 .

A hiker shouts to their friend and 4 seconds later hears an echo of their shout. If sound travels at 330 m/s, how far away was the cliff that reflected their shout?

At least 2 km

About 1.5 km

Exactly 1,320 m

660 m

You could use the equation speed = distance ÷ time or simple logic. The key thing is to remember that an echo is a 'there and back' journey

3 .

A solar furnace can be used to cook food in sunny places where it is difficult to obtain other fuels. It works by reflecting and focussing the Sun's heat. What would be the best shape and material for a solar furnace?

Flat, dark and matt

Concave, light coloured and shiny

Convex, light coloured and matt

Flat, grey and shiny

Since it needs to focus the Sun's thermal radiation (infrared) onto a cooking vessel, the only option is concave. The others all produce vurtual images

4 .

When you look at yourself in a mirror, your image is:

real and identical to you

virtual and identical to you

real and laterally inverted

virtual and laterally inverted

Right and left are reversed in a reflection

5 .

Electromagnetic radiation travels in straight lines, so how come certain radio waves can be detected on the other side of the world without using artificial satellites?

Earth's gravity causes them to bend round

They reflect off a layer in the Earth's atmosphere

They can pass directly through the Earth

When they get to the edge of the atmosphere they are trapped by space

The reflecting layer is called the ionosphere

6 .

The location of a virtual image in a plane mirror appears to be where?

The same distance behind the mirror as the object is in front

The same place as the object

Behind the mirror but at half the distance of the object

Behind the mirror but at twice the distance of the object

A reflection always appears to be as far behind the mirror as the image is in front. If you haven't already learnt about Pepper's Ghost in your science lessons, look it up when you have finished on this website

7 .

On ray diagrams, what is the normal?

An imaginary line at 90^o to the reflecting surface

An imaginary line at 45^o to the reflecting surface

A real line at 90^o to the reflecting surface

A real line at 180^o to the reflecting surface

It is drawn from the point at which the incident ray hits the reflecting surface

8 .

What is a virtual image?

An image that can be projected onto a screen

An image that can't be projected onto a screen

An image that is virtually perfect

An image of a person only

Plane mirrors give virtual images, they cannot be projected onto a screen. Concave mirrors give real images, they can be reflected and seen on a screen

9 .

What is an incident ray of light?

A ray of light that the police shine when there has been an incident on the road

A ray of light that is leaving the surface of a mirror

A ray of light that is hitting the surface of a mirror

A ray of light that is shining parallel to the surface of a mirror

You can also use the phrases 'incident wave', 'incident wavefront', 'incident sound wave' etc. In terms of waves, incident simply means the wave that is approaching the reflecting surface

10 .

Which of the following statements about reflection is not true?

Echoes only occur in the countryside

The angle of incidence is the same as the angle of reflection

The normal is drawn as a dotted or dashed line on ray diagrams

Rough surfaces scatter sound in all directions

Echoes occur in towns and cities too but you are not usually aware of them

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Reflection and refraction - AQA

Author: Kev Woodward (PGCE, Science & Chemistry Teacher, Quiz Writer)