reflection

Question 1

reflection

Answer 1

when light bounces off a substance

Question 2

regular reflection

Answer 2

when light is reflected directly off a smooth surface

Question 3

diffuse reflection

Answer 3

when light is scattered as it is reflected off a substance. Most common when surfaces are not smooth

Question 4

*Absorbtion

Answer 4

When light is trapped (absorbed) by a substance

Question 5

law of reflection

Question 6

angle of incidence

Answer 6

the angle between the incident ray and the normal.

Question 7

incidence ray

Answer 7

Light projected towards a mirror

Question 8

angle of reflection

Answer 8

the angle between the reflected ray and the normal.

Question 9

reflection ray

Answer 9

Light reflected off a mirror is called a reflected ray.

Question 10

normal

Answer 10

an imaginary line that is perpendicular to the mirror’s surface, originating from the point where the incident ray hits the mirror (which is also where the reflected ray reflects off the mirror).

Question 11

reflection with plane mirror

Answer 11

In other words, when parallel light rays reflect off a plane mirror, they remain parallel.

When parallel light rays are directed at a plane mirror from a perpendicular angle, they are reflected along the same path.

Question 12

reflection with concave mirror

Answer 12

A concave mirror causes parallel light rays to come together (converge) after they reflect off the mirror.
A concave mirror is therefore a converging mirror.
When parallel light rays are directed at a concave mirror from a perpendicular angle, they converge at a point called the focal point.
The distance between the focal point and the centre of the mirror’s surface is called the focal length.

Question 13

reflection with convex mirror

Answer 13

A convex mirror causes parallel light rays to move away from each other (diverge) after they reflect off the mirror.
A convex mirror is therefore a diverging mirror.
When parallel light rays are directed at a convex mirror from a perpendicular angle, they diverge in a way that makes them appear to come from a point behind the mirror.
This is the focal point, but it is a virtual focal point as the light rays don’t pass through it.
Like a concave mirror, the distance between tehe focal point and the centre of the mirror’s surface is the focal length

Question 14

image formation with plane mirrors

Answer 14

always reflect images that are upright and equal-sized.

Question 15

image formation with convex mirrors

Answer 15

Convex mirrors always reflect images that are upright and smaller.

Question 16

image formation with concave mirrors

Answer 16

reflect images differently, depending on the distance between the object and the mirror.

When very close to an object, the mirrors reflect images that are upright and larger.
When far away from an object, the mirrors reflect images that are inverted and smaller.