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Reflection & Refraction

CONCEPTUAL
Science›Waves, Light & Sound|Ages 11—12|ID: mt_PifbJOuXrG

State the law of reflection (angle of incidence = angle of reflection) and explain refraction as the change in speed and direction when light crosses a boundary between two media; apply ray diagrams for plane mirrors and refracting surfaces

Mastery Evidence

  • States the law of reflection and applies it to draw a reflected ray correctly
  • Draws a ray diagram for a plane mirror showing a virtual image
  • Explains why a pencil looks bent in a glass of water using refraction
  • Explains qualitatively why light bends towards the normal when entering a denser medium

Assessment Prompt

“If [child] put a straw in a glass of water and it looked bent at the surface, could they explain why that happens — drawing a diagram to show the path of light at the water’s surface?”

Curriculum Standards2 alignments

KS3.Sci.Phys.Waves.1The national curriculum in England
Properties of Waves

the properties of waves, including how the speed of sound and light differ; reflection; refraction; the distinction between transverse and longitudinal waves; the electromagnetic spectrum and its uses

Science · KS3
KS3.Sci.Phys.Waves.4The national curriculum in England
Wave Interactions and Sight

the effects of absorption, transmission and reflection of waves on colour, sight and light

Science · KS3

Prerequisites4

Show full prerequisite tree
  • Drawing Ray Diagrams hard

    The law of reflection is described and verified using ray diagrams for reflection

    • Measuring angles hard

      Drawing ray diagrams requires measuring angles accurately with a protractor — the core skill in mt_4MFUAsbx_6

      • Types of angles (age 8+) hard

        Measuring and drawing angles with a protractor requires knowing how to mark and label angles using standard notation

      • Degrees and turns hard

        Using a protractor requires understanding degree measurement

        • What Is an Angle? hard

          Degree measurement system requires understanding what an angle is

          • Types of angles hard

            Angle definition builds on understanding right angles

            • Right Angles & Turns hard

              Identifying right angles and greater/less than right angle is prerequisite to naming acute/obtuse

              • Understanding angles hard

                Identifying right angles requires understanding what an angle is

                • 2-D shapes (age 6+) soft

                  Understanding angles as shape properties requires knowing basic shape properties

                  • Angles in triangles (age 6+) soft

                    Understanding defining attributes supports describing shape properties formally

                    • 2-D shapes hard

                      Distinguishing defining vs non-defining attributes requires knowing common 2-D shape names first

                    • 3-D shapes (age 5+) hard

                      Identifying defining attributes builds on informal analysis and comparison of shapes

                      • 2-D shapes hard

                        Analysing and comparing shapes requires being able to name them first

                      • 3-D shapes hard

                        Analysing 3-D shapes requires recognising and naming them

                  • 2-D shapes hard

                    Describing properties of 2-D shapes (sides, symmetry) requires knowing the shapes first

                  • 3-D shapes (age 5+) hard

                    Formal property description extends informal analysis of sides and vertices

                    • 2-D shapes hard

                      Analysing and comparing shapes requires being able to name them first

                    • 3-D shapes hard

                      Analysing 3-D shapes requires recognising and naming them

                • Position, direction, and movement hard

                  Recognising angles as turns extends Y2 work on quarter/half/three-quarter turns

                  • Positional Language hard

                    Position/direction vocabulary with right angles extends basic positional language

                  • Turns & Directions hard

                    Right-angle turns (clockwise/anti-clockwise) build directly on whole/half/quarter turns from Year 1

                    • What Is a Half? soft

                      Understanding half and quarter turns benefits from the concept of halves and quarters

                    • Positional Language hard

                      Describing movement and turns builds on positional language

              • Types of angles (age 8+) soft

                Identifying right angles and turns is supported by the convention of marking right angles with a small square

              • Position, direction, and movement hard

                Right angles as quarter turns extends Y2 turn vocabulary

          • Right Angles & Turns hard

            Angle definition builds on classifying acute/obtuse angles

            • Understanding angles hard

              Identifying right angles requires understanding what an angle is

              • 2-D shapes (age 6+) soft

                Understanding angles as shape properties requires knowing basic shape properties

                • Angles in triangles (age 6+) soft

                  Understanding defining attributes supports describing shape properties formally

                  • 2-D shapes hard

                    Distinguishing defining vs non-defining attributes requires knowing common 2-D shape names first

                  • 3-D shapes (age 5+) hard

                    Identifying defining attributes builds on informal analysis and comparison of shapes

                    • 2-D shapes hard

                      Analysing and comparing shapes requires being able to name them first

                    • 3-D shapes hard

                      Analysing 3-D shapes requires recognising and naming them

                • 2-D shapes hard

                  Describing properties of 2-D shapes (sides, symmetry) requires knowing the shapes first

                • 3-D shapes (age 5+) hard

                  Formal property description extends informal analysis of sides and vertices

                  • 2-D shapes hard

                    Analysing and comparing shapes requires being able to name them first

                  • 3-D shapes hard

                    Analysing 3-D shapes requires recognising and naming them

              • Position, direction, and movement hard

                Recognising angles as turns extends Y2 work on quarter/half/three-quarter turns

            • Types of angles (age 8+) soft

              Identifying right angles and turns is supported by the convention of marking right angles with a small square

            • Position, direction, and movement hard

              Right angles as quarter turns extends Y2 turn vocabulary

              • Positional Language hard

                Position/direction vocabulary with right angles extends basic positional language

              • Turns & Directions hard

                Right-angle turns (clockwise/anti-clockwise) build directly on whole/half/quarter turns from Year 1

  • Reflecting Light soft

    Earlier work on light reflecting from surfaces provides the experiential grounding for formal reflection laws

  • Light Travels in Straight Lines hard

    Reflection and refraction build directly on understanding that light travels in straight lines and casts shadows

  • Wave Behaviour Vocabulary hard

    Applying the law of reflection and refraction requires both 'angle of incidence/reflection' and 'refraction' vocabulary

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