Specular Reflection

Key Stage 2

A mirror reflects light so we can see a perfect image.

Reflection from shiny surfaces is when light bounces off a material creating an image that we can see.

Singular Noun: Reflection

Plural Noun: Reflections

Verb: To reflect

Adjective: Reflective

When a surface is shiny we can see a reflection on the surface.

A mirror is a shiny piece of metal that reflects all of the light that hits it and allows us to see an image.

Mirrors are said to be reflective.

If a surface is dull you cannot see an image and it is not called reflective, but it still reflects the light.


You can see the reflection of the mountain and clouds on the surface of the water.	The glass reflects the image of the clouds.

These glasses are very reflective.	You can sometimes see a reflection is a person's eye.

Specular Reflection is when light bounces off a flat surface to produce a an image.

Specular Reflection happens from a shiny surface and makes an image (you can see a 'reflection').


Specular Reflection happens from a smooth surface. Parallel rays are reflected and stay parallel to one another.

The Law of reflection states that the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.


Specular Reflection from the glass makes an image of the sky in the glass.

Specular Reflection is when an Electromagnetic Wave bounces off the interface between a transparent medium and an opaque medium with a flat surface to produce an image.

Specular Reflection happens from a shiny surface and makes an image (you can see a 'reflection').


Specular Reflection happens from a smooth surface. Parallel rays are reflected and stay parallel to one another.

The Law of reflection states that the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.


The angle between the incident ray and the normal (angle of incidence) is the same as the angle between the reflected ray and the normal (angle of reflection).