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physics Physics For High Schools (KS4)
 
Solved problems for the chapter:
 

Reflection of Light

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Reflection and Refraction of Light
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Detailed solution steps are available at:
 
https://en.openprof.com/wb/chapter:reflection_of_light/3537/


Example 1.

Determine whether the statement is correct:


  • We see a body if it emits light, or if it is illuminated.

  • All the celestial bodies we see with the naked eye in the clear night sky are lights.

  • A light source must be heated to a high enough temperature to emit light.

  • The speed of light propagation depends on the substance through which it propagates.

  • Light propagates rectilinearly within the same matter

    
Example 2.

A light beam is incident on a flat mirror at an angle with respect to the vertical. At what angle to the vertical will it reflect?

    
3.

A beam of parallel light rays falls on the crumpled surface of an aluminum foil and bounces off it completely. What rays do we get after reflection?

    
4.

A periscope is an optical device that allows us to see objects obscured by an obstacle. It also makes it possible to observe ships at sea level from partially submerged submarines. Explain the operation of the periscope.

    
5.

Before leaving for school, Tina looks in a flat mirror attached to the wall. Draw a sketch and explain why Tina sees her image in the mirror. How big is the image? How is it reversed?

    
6.

A police car pulls up behind the driver of a car on the highway. The bonnet has the inscription POLICE as shown in the picture. What inscription does the driver see when he sees it in the rearview mirror?


    
7.

A beam is incident on a plane mirror at an angle with respect to the plane of the mirror and is reflected. What is the angle between the incident and reflected rays?

    
8.

At what angle should a light beam fall on a plane mirror so that the angle between the incident and reflected beams is ?

    

9.

At what angle must a light beam fall on a plane mirror in order to be reflected perpendicular to the plane of the mirror?

    
10.

Identify the bodies that are classified as lights in the list below:

  • star

  • illuminated table

  • satellite

  • fire

  • Jupiter

  • gas light

  • roller

  • north light

    
11.

A beam of light falls on a plane mirror, as shown in the figure:


Light beam



  • Mark the angle of incidence with and write down how much it measures (measure it with a geotriangle).

  • Draw the angle of reflection and mark it with . How much is the angle of reflection?

    
12.

Joe observes the reflection of an autumn landscape on the calm surface of a lake. He tries to explain to himself how the reflection comes about. Can you help him?


Mirroring the landscape on the water

    
13.

Which of the following statements is correct?

  • Angle of incidence is the angle between a ray and the surface where the ray incident.

  • A ray incident on a plane mirror is reflected so that the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.

  • When mirroring in a flat mirror on a wall, the mirror image is the same as the object.

  • We say that a medium is optically denser if light propagates faster in it than in an optically less dense medium.

  • When a ray enters an optically denser medium, it refracts so that the angle of refraction is smaller than the angle of incidence.

  • When a ray passes through a flat, optically denser plate with parallel surfaces (plane-parallel plate), the beam changes its direction.

  • Total reflection may occur in the transition of a ray from an optically denser medium to an optically less dense medium.

    
14.

The diagram shows a plane mirror and a ray of light reflected from it. Which angle is the angle of incidence?


Title

    
15.

A ray of light is reflected by a plane mirror.




Which row shows the angle of incidence and the angle of reflection?


 
angle of
incidence
angle of
reflection
 
A
P
Q
 
B
P
S
 
C
Q
R
 
D
R
S
 
    
16.

A light ray strikes a plane mirror and is reflected. Which angle is always equal in size to the angle of reflection?


  • the angle between the incident ray and the mirror


  • the angle between the incident ray and the normal to the mirror


  • the angle between the reflected ray and the mirror


  • the angle between the reflected ray and the incident ray

    
17.

Which diagram shows the image correctly formed by reflection?


    
18.

A card is placed in front of a plane mirror so that its label is facing the mirror, as shown.




The label is shown.




How does the image of the label formed by the mirror appear to the observer?


    

19.

The diagram shows a ray of light incident on a plane mirror.




The angle between the ray and the mirror is . The ray is reflected by the mirror. What is the angle of reflection?









    
20.

The angle between an incident ray and the surface of a plane mirror reflecting the ray is . What is the angle of incidence?









    
21.

A student draws a diagram to show the directions of a light ray reflecting off a plane mirror.




What are the correct terms for the lines drawn?


 
normal
incident
ray
reflected
ray
 
A
1
2
3
 
B
1
3
2
 
C
2
1
3
 
D
2
3
1
 
    
22.

A plane mirror is fixed to a vertical wall. A boy looks at the image of himself in the mirror. Which statement describes the image formed?


  • real and upright


  • real and upside down


  • virtual and upright


  • virtual and upside down

    
23.

The optical image formed by a plane mirror is the same size as the object. Which row describes the other characteristics of the optical image formed?


 
distance from
the mirror
real or virtual
 
A
same as object
virtual
 
B
smaller than object
virtual
 
C
larger than object
real
 
D
same as object
real
 
    
24.

The diagram shows an object in front of a plane mirror. At which labelled position is the image of the object formed?


    
25.

The diagram shows a ray of light being reflected from a plane mirror.




Which row identifies the angles of incidence and reflection?


 
angle of
incidence
angle of
reflection
 
A
W
Y
 
B
W
Z
 
C
X
Y
 
D
X
Z
 
    
26.

A ray of light is shone onto the surface of a mirror.




Which two angles represent the angle of incidence and the angle of reflection?


  • 1 and 2


  • 1 and 4


  • 2 and 3


  • 3 and 4

    
27.

An object O is placed in front of a plane mirror as shown.




Which row is correct?


 
position of
the image
nature of
the image
 
A
1
real
 
B
1
virtual
 
C
2
real
 
D
2
virtual
 
    
28.

The letter F is reflected in a mirror.




What does the optical image look like?


    

29.

A photographer sees his image as shown.




What could X be?


    
30.

Which statement about the image of an object formed in a plane mirror is correct?


  • It is smaller than the object.


  • It is the same size as the object.


  • It is larger than the object.


  • It is inverted.

    
31.

Light from a torch is incident on a plane mirror. The angle of incidence is . What is the angle of reflection?









    
32.

A boy is having his eyes tested. A letter is printed on a card placed over his head. He sees the card in a plane mirror placed on the far wall of the room. He sees the letter ‘R’ in the mirror. How is it printed on the card?