Reflection of light
8 flashcards to master Reflection of light
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Define the following terms in the context of reflection of light: (a) Normal (b) Angle of Incidence (c) Angle of Reflection
(a) Normal: An imaginary line perpendicular to the reflecting surface at the point of incidence.
(b) Angle of Incidence: The angle between the incident ray and the normal.
(c) Angle of Reflection: The angle between the reflected ray and the normal.
A ray of light is incident on a plane mirror. The angle between the incident ray and the mirror surface is 53°. State the angle of reflection.
The angle of incidence is the angle between the incident ray and the normal. Since the angle between the ray and mirror is 53°, the angle of incidence is 90° - 53° = 37°.
The angle of reflection is equal to the angle of incidence, so the angle of reflection is 37°.
Describe the formation of an optical image by a plane mirror and state its characteristics.
Formation: Light rays from an object strike the plane mirror and are reflected. The reflected rays appear to originate from a point behind the mirror. The point where the reflected rays appear to diverge from is the image location.
Characteristics:
1. Same size as the object.
2. Same distance from the mirror as the object.
3. Virtual (cannot be projected onto a screen).
A small toy car is placed 15 cm in front of a plane mirror. What are the characteristics of the image formed?
The image will have the following characteristics:
1. Size: Same size as the toy car.
2. Distance: The image will be 15 cm behind the mirror.
3. Nature: The image will be virtual.
A ray of light strikes a plane mirror with an angle of incidence of 35°. What is the angle of reflection?
The angle of reflection is equal to the angle of incidence.
Therefore, angle of reflection = 35°
State the relationship between the angle of incidence and the angle of reflection when light reflects off a smooth surface.
For reflection, the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.
A ray of light is incident on a plane mirror at an angle of 45° to the normal. Calculate the angle of reflection.
Angle of incidence = Angle of reflection
Angle of incidence = 45°
Angle of reflection = 45°
Explanation: The law of reflection states that the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.
State what is meant by the 'normal' when discussing the reflection of light from a plane mirror.
The normal is a line drawn perpendicular to the surface of the mirror at the point where the incident ray strikes the mirror. It serves as a reference line for measuring the angles of incidence and reflection.
Key Questions: Reflection of light
Define the following terms in the context of reflection of light: (a) Normal (b) Angle of Incidence (c) Angle of Reflection
(a) Normal: An imaginary line perpendicular to the reflecting surface at the point of incidence.
(b) Angle of Incidence: The angle between the incident ray and the normal.
(c) Angle of Reflection: The angle between the reflected ray and the normal.
State what is meant by the 'normal' when discussing the reflection of light from a plane mirror.
The normal is a line drawn perpendicular to the surface of the mirror at the point where the incident ray strikes the mirror. It serves as a reference line for measuring the angles of incidence and reflection.
About Reflection of light (3.2.1)
These 8 flashcards cover everything you need to know about Reflection of light for your Cambridge IGCSE Physics (0625) exam. Each card is designed based on the official syllabus requirements.
What You'll Learn
- 2 Definitions - Key terms and their precise meanings that examiners expect
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After mastering Reflection of light, explore these related topics:
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- 3.2.2 Refraction of light - 18 flashcards
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