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Science Quiz - Physics - Reflection (AQA) (Questions)

Explore how light reflects from mirrors and rough surfaces, use the law of reflection in ray diagrams, and understand how images form in GCSE Physics questions.

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Fascinating Fact:

Specular reflection is from smooth surfaces and gives clear images. Diffuse reflection is from rough surfaces and scatters light in many directions.

In GCSE Science Physics, you learn how light reflects from surfaces, how to draw accurate ray diagrams and how specular and diffuse reflection affect the clarity of images in mirrors and objects.

Key Terms

Reflection: When light bounces off a surface instead of passing through or being absorbed.
Angle of incidence: The angle between the incoming ray and the normal line at the surface.
Diffuse reflection: Reflection from a rough surface that scatters light in many directions.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What is reflection in GCSE Physics?

In GCSE Physics, reflection is the process where light rays hit a surface and bounce off, allowing us to see objects and images in mirrors and shiny materials.

What is the law of reflection?

The law of reflection states that the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection, when both angles are measured from the normal drawn at the surface.

How do specular and diffuse reflection differ?

Specular reflection from a smooth surface keeps rays in regular directions, giving a sharp image, while diffuse reflection scatters rays so no clear image is seen.

Try These Related Quizzes

1.

What is an incident ray of light?

[ ]	A ray of light that the police shine when there has been an incident on the road
[ ]	A ray of light that is leaving the surface of a mirror
[ ]	A ray of light that is hitting the surface of a mirror
[ ]	A ray of light that is shining parallel to the surface of a mirror

2.

A sound wave hits a brick wall at 36^o from the normal. At what angle does it reflect?

[ ]	126^o
[ ]	63^o
[ ]	54^o
[ ]	36^o

3.

On ray diagrams, what is the normal?

[ ]	An imaginary line at 90^o to the reflecting surface
[ ]	An imaginary line at 45^o to the reflecting surface
[ ]	A real line at 90^o to the reflecting surface
[ ]	A real line at 180^o to the reflecting surface

4.

What is a virtual image?

[ ]	An image that can be projected onto a screen
[ ]	An image that can't be projected onto a screen
[ ]	An image that is virtually perfect
[ ]	An image of a person only

5.

The location of a virtual image in a plane mirror appears to be where?

[ ]	The same distance behind the mirror as the object is in front
[ ]	The same place as the object
[ ]	Behind the mirror but at half the distance of the object
[ ]	Behind the mirror but at twice the distance of the object

6.

When you look at yourself in a mirror, your image is:

[ ]	real and identical to you
[ ]	virtual and identical to you
[ ]	real and laterally inverted
[ ]	virtual and laterally inverted

7.

A hiker shouts to their friend and 4 seconds later hears an echo of their shout. If sound travels at 330 m/s, how far away was the cliff that reflected their shout?

[ ]	At least 2 km
[ ]	About 1.5 km
[ ]	Exactly 1,320 m
[ ]	660 m

8.

Electromagnetic radiation travels in straight lines, so how come certain radio waves can be detected on the other side of the world without using artificial satellites?

[ ]	Earth's gravity causes them to bend round
[ ]	They reflect off a layer in the Earth's atmosphere
[ ]	They can pass directly through the Earth
[ ]	When they get to the edge of the atmosphere they are trapped by space

9.

A solar furnace can be used to cook food in sunny places where it is difficult to obtain other fuels. It works by reflecting and focussing the Sun's heat. What would be the best shape and material for a solar furnace?

[ ]	Flat, dark and matt
[ ]	Concave, light coloured and shiny
[ ]	Convex, light coloured and matt
[ ]	Flat, grey and shiny

10.

Which of the following statements about reflection is not true?

[ ]	Echoes only occur in the countryside
[ ]	The angle of incidence is the same as the angle of reflection
[ ]	The normal is drawn as a dotted or dashed line on ray diagrams
[ ]	Rough surfaces scatter sound in all directions

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Reflection and refraction - AQA

Science Quiz - Physics - Reflection (AQA) (Answers)

1.

What is an incident ray of light?

[ ]	A ray of light that the police shine when there has been an incident on the road
[ ]	A ray of light that is leaving the surface of a mirror
[x]	A ray of light that is hitting the surface of a mirror
[ ]	A ray of light that is shining parallel to the surface of a mirror

You can also use the phrases 'incident wave', 'incident wavefront', 'incident sound wave' etc. In terms of waves, incident simply means the wave that is approaching the reflecting surface

2.

A sound wave hits a brick wall at 36^o from the normal. At what angle does it reflect?

[ ]	126^o
[ ]	63^o
[ ]	54^o
[x]	36^o

Remember the Law of Reflection...

3.

On ray diagrams, what is the normal?

[x]	An imaginary line at 90^o to the reflecting surface
[ ]	An imaginary line at 45^o to the reflecting surface
[ ]	A real line at 90^o to the reflecting surface
[ ]	A real line at 180^o to the reflecting surface

It is drawn from the point at which the incident ray hits the reflecting surface

4.

What is a virtual image?

[ ]	An image that can be projected onto a screen
[x]	An image that can't be projected onto a screen
[ ]	An image that is virtually perfect
[ ]	An image of a person only

Plane mirrors give virtual images, they cannot be projected onto a screen. Concave mirrors give real images, they can be reflected and seen on a screen

5.

The location of a virtual image in a plane mirror appears to be where?

[x]	The same distance behind the mirror as the object is in front
[ ]	The same place as the object
[ ]	Behind the mirror but at half the distance of the object
[ ]	Behind the mirror but at twice the distance of the object

A reflection always appears to be as far behind the mirror as the image is in front. If you haven't already learnt about Pepper's Ghost in your science lessons, look it up when you have finished on this website

6.

When you look at yourself in a mirror, your image is:

[ ]	real and identical to you
[ ]	virtual and identical to you
[ ]	real and laterally inverted
[x]	virtual and laterally inverted

Right and left are reversed in a reflection

7.

A hiker shouts to their friend and 4 seconds later hears an echo of their shout. If sound travels at 330 m/s, how far away was the cliff that reflected their shout?

[ ]	At least 2 km
[ ]	About 1.5 km
[ ]	Exactly 1,320 m
[x]	660 m

You could use the equation speed = distance ÷ time or simple logic. The key thing is to remember that an echo is a 'there and back' journey

8.

Electromagnetic radiation travels in straight lines, so how come certain radio waves can be detected on the other side of the world without using artificial satellites?

[ ]	Earth's gravity causes them to bend round
[x]	They reflect off a layer in the Earth's atmosphere
[ ]	They can pass directly through the Earth
[ ]	When they get to the edge of the atmosphere they are trapped by space

The reflecting layer is called the ionosphere

9.

A solar furnace can be used to cook food in sunny places where it is difficult to obtain other fuels. It works by reflecting and focussing the Sun's heat. What would be the best shape and material for a solar furnace?

[ ]	Flat, dark and matt
[x]	Concave, light coloured and shiny
[ ]	Convex, light coloured and matt
[ ]	Flat, grey and shiny

Since it needs to focus the Sun's thermal radiation (infrared) onto a cooking vessel, the only option is concave. The others all produce vurtual images

10.

Which of the following statements about reflection is not true?

[x]	Echoes only occur in the countryside
[ ]	The angle of incidence is the same as the angle of reflection
[ ]	The normal is drawn as a dotted or dashed line on ray diagrams
[ ]	Rough surfaces scatter sound in all directions

Echoes occur in towns and cities too but you are not usually aware of them