Reflection of Light
Introduction:
A. Fill in the blanks in the sentence below.
Light travels in __________. Light waves are ____________________. This means they can
travel through a __________ and do not need __________. Electromagnetic waves are
_______________, the vibrations travel _____________ to the direction of energy transfer.
transverse
vacuum
particles
perpendicular
electromagnetic
waves
B. Look at the images on the board. Note your answers to the questions in your book.
LO1: TO STATE THE LAW OF REFLECTION
Task 1:
How could you get the 8 ball in the bottom left pocket in just one move?
The cue ball must bonce off the of the side of the table.
Explanation:
Keywords:
bounce, angle
_____________________________________
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8
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Task 2:
Label the diagram to show how light reflects from a mirrored surface.
Law of Reflection
_____________________
=
______________________
angle of incidence
angle of reflection normal
mirror
incident ray
reflected ray
Task 3: Now look again at your response to Task 1, is there anything you would change or
add? Make any additions or corrections in another colour, if you have one.
LO fulfilled
Evidence?___________________________________________
Craig Collins, Greenwich, 2015
Task 4:

LO2: TO CONSTRUCT RAY DIAGRAMS
Use the instructions below to complete the ray diagram for an object reflected in
the mirror.
1. Draw the virtual image the same size as the object and the same distance from the
mirror. Use the grid to help you.
2. Draw a reflected ray from the top of the virtual image to the top of the eye. (Solid
lines in front of the mirror, dotted lines behind the mirror).
3. Draw the incident ray from the top of the object to the mirror.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for the rays entering the bottom of the eye.
Object
Mirror
Virtual image
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Further Challenge - on squared paper, show the reflection of this object:
Task completed
Self-marked
¶
LO fulfilled
One thing I found tricky ____________________________________________
One thing to remember for next time
Craig Collins, Greenwich, 2015
LO3: TO DEDUCE THE POSITIONING OF REFLECTED IMAGES
The diagram shows a model used to demonstrate an illusion known as ‘Pepper’s Ghost’
A small light bulb and a thin sheet of glass are put inside a box. The thin sheet of glass acts
as a mirror. Although the light bulb is switched on, the student looking into the box cannot
see the bulb. What the student does see is a virtual image of the bulb.
a) Use a ruler to complete a ray diagram to show how the image of the bulb is formed.
Mark and label the position of the image.
(4 marks)
b) The image seen by the student is virtual. Why?
(1 mark)
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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C) The virtual image is laterally inverted in the mirror. What is meant by lateral inversion?
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Task completed
Self-marked
Mark ____ /6
LO fulfilled
www ___________________________________________________________
ebi _____________________________________________________________
Craig Collins, Greenwich, 2015
PLENARY
Prog. Tracker
LO1: TO STATE THE LAW OF REFLECTION
Q: The angle of incidence is 37°. What is the angle of reflection? How do you know this?
A: _______________________________________________________________________
Rate your understanding
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A
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LO2: TO CONSTRUCT RAY DIAGRAMS
Q: There are three things wrong with the following ray diagram. What are they?
1.
_____________________________
2.
_____________________________
3.
_____________________________
Rate your understanding
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LO3: TO DEDUCE THE POSITIONING OF REFLECTED IMAGES
Select the correct statements from the following:
The virtual image appears closer in the mirror.
The object is further from the mirror than the virtual image.
The object and the image are the same distance from the mirror.
The virtual image appears the same size in a mirror.
Rate your understanding
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A
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TARGET SETTING
Choose a target which will help you to improve your competency in this topic. Each target
has a homework task linked to it. Ensure you choose the correct one!
LO1: I must practice drawing the normal, incident and reflected ray accurately.
LO2: I must practice adding the incident and reflected rays accurately to ray diagrams.
LO3: I must practice completing ray diagrams with virtual images and constructed rays.
Craig Collins, Greenwich, 2015