GCSE Physics Revision — Reflection & Refraction
Revise Reflection & Refraction for GCSE Physics with a topic explanation, worked example and common mistakes. Check the board notes for specification differences.
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What is Reflection & Refraction?
Reflection is when a wave bounces off a surface. The law of reflection states that the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection. Refraction is when a wave changes direction as it passes from one medium to another, due to a change in its speed. The amount of refraction depends on the refractive index of the materials.
Board notes: Covered by all major boards (AQA, Edexcel, OCR). Ray diagrams are a common way to test these concepts.
Step-by-step explanationWorked examples
Worked example
A ray of light enters a glass block from air. The angle of incidence is 30°. Will the angle of refraction be greater or smaller than 30°? Explain why. Solution: The angle of refraction will be smaller than 30°. This is because light travels more slowly in glass (a denser medium) than in air. As the wave slows down, it bends towards the normal.
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Common mistakes
- 1Confusing reflection and refraction. Reflection is bouncing off, refraction is bending through.
- 2Measuring the angles of incidence and reflection from the surface instead of from the normal. The normal is a line drawn at 90° to the surface.
- 3Forgetting that the frequency of a wave does not change when it is refracted. Its speed and wavelength do change.
Reflection & Refraction exam questions
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Frequently asked questions
What is the law of reflection?
The law of reflection states that the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection (i = r), and that the incident ray, the reflected ray, and the normal all lie in the same plane.
Why does a straw in a glass of water look bent?
This is due to refraction. The light rays from the part of the straw that is underwater are bent as they pass from the water into the air before reaching your eyes. This makes the straw appear to be in a different position.