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GCSE Physics · key term
The angle between an incoming ray and the normal to the surface it meets.
Used by Edexcel and OCR
Specification 5.1P, 5.9 · Paper 1
The angle between an incident ray and the normal at the point where the ray meets a boundary.
Revise: Ray Diagrams and TIRThe angle of refraction is smaller than the angle of incidence.
The angle between a ray approaching a boundary and the normal.
At the critical angle, the refracted ray travels along the boundary. Total internal reflection occurs only when the angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle.
For total internal reflection, state both conditions: light travels from a higher refractive index to a lower refractive index, and the angle of incidence exceeds the critical angle.
For reflection, place the reflected ray on the other side of the normal and make the angle of reflection equal to the angle of incidence.
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Specification P5.3d · Paper 2 (Foundation), Paper 4 (Higher)
The angle between an incident ray and the normal at the point where the ray meets a surface.
Revise: Ray diagrams constructionMeasure the angle between the incident ray and the normal. This is the angle of incidence.
Paper 1, Paper 2
The angle between an incoming ray and the normal at a surface.