This diagram covers Reflection — The Law of Reflection within Reflection & Refraction for GCSE Physics. Revise Reflection & Refraction in Waves for GCSE Physics with 15 exam-style questions and 15 flashcards. This is a high-frequency topic, so it is worth revising until the explanation feels precise and repeatable. It is section 2 of 13 in this topic. Focus on the labels, the relationships between parts, and the explanation that turns the diagram into an exam-ready answer.
Topic position
Section 2 of 13
Practice
15 questions
Recall
15 flashcards
📊 Reflection — The Law of Reflection
Figure 1: The law of reflection — angles measured from the normal
LAW OF REFLECTION: Angle of incidence = Angle of reflection (i = r)
IMPORTANT: All angles are measured from the normal (a line perpendicular to the surface at the point of incidence) — NOT from the surface itself.
TYPES OF REFLECTION:
- Specular (smooth surface) — All rays reflect in the same direction → clear image (e.g., mirror)
- Diffuse (rough surface) — Rays scatter in many directions → no clear image (e.g., paper, walls)