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GCSE Physics · key term
Reflection from a smooth surface in which parallel incident rays leave in the same direction.
Used by AQA, Edexcel and OCR
Specification 4.6.2.6 · Paper 2
Reflection from a smooth surface in a single direction.
Revise: Visible lightA smooth surface such as a mirror produces specular reflection. Parallel incoming rays reflect in one direction and remain ordered, allowing a clear image to form. A rough surface, such as paper, produces diffuse reflection: its tiny uneven parts reflect rays in different directions.
Specification 5.2P · Paper 1
Revise: Specular and Diffuse ReflectionEach ray reflects through the same angle and the reflected rays remain together, travelling in one direction. This is specular reflection. It can produce a clear image, as in a mirror or calm water.
Specification P5.3e · Paper 2 (Foundation), Paper 4 (Higher)
Orderly reflection from a smooth surface, in which parallel incoming rays remain parallel after reflection.
Revise: ColourA smooth surface such as a mirror gives specular reflection: rays arriving in the same direction leave in an orderly way, so a clear image can form. A rough surface redirects reflected light in many directions. This scattering lets the surface be seen from different positions, but it does not give a clear mirror image.
Paper 1, Paper 2
Reflection from a smooth surface in which an incident beam is reflected in a predictable direction.
Revise: Reflection, Refraction and LensesA smooth mirror produces specular reflection.
For parallel incident rays, compare the directions of the reflected rays: they remain together after specular reflection but leave in different directions after diffuse reflection.
Distinguish specular reflection, which produces a clear image, from scattering, which sends light in many directions.
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