Specular Reflection
Contents
Key Stage 2
Meaning
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.
About Reflection form Shiny Surfaces
- 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.
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| You can see the reflection of the mountain and clouds on the surface of the water. | The glass reflects the image of the clouds. |
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| These glasses are very reflective. | You can sometimes see a reflection is a person's eye. |
Key Stage 3
Meaning
Specular Reflection is when light bounces off a flat surface to produce a an image.
About Specular Reflection
- Specular Reflection happens from a shiny surface and makes an image (you can see a 'reflection').
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| Specular Reflection happens from a smooth surface. Parallel rays are reflected and stay parallel to one another. |
The Law of Reflection
- The Law of reflection states that the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.
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| Specular Reflection from the glass makes an image of the sky in the glass. |
Key Stage 4
Meaning
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.
About Specular Reflection
- Specular Reflection happens from a shiny surface and makes an image (you can see a 'reflection').
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| Specular Reflection happens from a smooth surface. Parallel rays are reflected and stay parallel to one another. |
The Law of Reflection
- The Law of reflection states that the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.
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| 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). |
References
AQA
- Specular reflection, page 203, GCSE Physics; Third Edition, Oxford University Press, AQA
- Specular reflection, page 208, GCSE Physics, Hodder, AQA
- Specular reflection, page 235, GCSE Physics; The Complete 9-1 Course for AQA, CGP, AQA
- Specular reflection, pages 75, 77, GCSE Physics; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
Edexcel
- Specular reflection, page 115, GCSE Physics, CGP, Edexcel
- Specular reflection, page 38, GCSE Physics; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
- Specular reflection, page 68, GCSE Physics, Pearson Edexcel