Contents
Key Stage 3
Meaning
A Ray Diagram is a way to represent how light interacts with a boundary.
About Ray Diagrams
- A Ray Diagram shows how light rays travel in straight lines.
Ray Diagrams can be used to show:
- Diffuse Reflection - How we see objects.
- Specular Reflection - How we see images in shiny surfaces.
- Refraction - When light changes direction as it enters a new medium.
Diffuse Reflection
 |
 |
| Diffuse Reflection allows us to see objects as the light from a light source bounces off a surface into our eyes. | Diffuse Reflection happens from a rough surface. |
Specular Reflection
 |
 |
| Specular Reflection happens from a smooth surface. | Specular Reflection from a mirror can be seen to follow the Law of Reflection. |
Refraction
 |
 |
| When light enters a new medium it changes direction. | Light is refracted as it passes from one medium into another. |
References
AQA
- Ray diagram, pages 191, 202-5, 215, 228-9, GCSE Physics; Student Book, Collins, AQA
- Ray diagrams, page 222, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
- Ray diagrams, pages 195, 196, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy; Physics, CGP, AQA
- Ray diagrams; for a concave lens, page 206, GCSE Physics, Hodder, AQA
- Ray diagrams; for a convex lens, pages 204-6, GCSE Physics, Hodder, AQA
- Ray diagrams; for a mirror, pages 188, 189, GCSE Physics, Hodder, AQA
- Ray diagrams; lenses, pages 270-274, 276, GCSE Physics; The Complete 9-1 Course for AQA, CGP, AQA
- Ray diagrams; reflection, pages 235, 238, GCSE Physics; The Complete 9-1 Course for AQA, CGP, AQA
- Ray diagrams; refraction, pages 232, 233, 237, GCSE Physics; The Complete 9-1 Course for AQA, CGP, AQA
Edexcel
- Ray diagrams, pages 66-67, GCSE Physics, Pearson Edexcel
- Ray diagrams; converging lenses, pages 122-124, GCSE Physics, CGP, Edexcel
- Ray diagrams; diverging lenses, pages 125, 126, GCSE Physics, CGP, Edexcel
- Ray diagrams; lenses, page 42, GCSE Physics; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
- Ray diagrams; reflection, pages 115-117, GCSE Physics, CGP, Edexcel
- Ray diagrams; refraction, pages 34, 39, GCSE Physics; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
- Ray diagrams; refraction, pages 99, 100, GCSE Physics, CGP, Edexcel