A student carries out an investigation into the reflection of light from a plane mirror. She stands the mirror upright on a sheet of paper, marks the mirror’s position with a straight line called XY, removes the mirror and draws a normal at the midpoint of the line called AC, then labels the point where the normal crosses the mirror as B.
(a)[2]
A ray of light strikes the mirror at B with an angle of incidence of 40^{\circ}. On Fig. 2.1, draw a line 10\,\text{cm} long from B to the left of the normal and below the mirror to represent the incident ray. Put D at the other end of the line.
(b(i))[1]
On Fig. 2.1, draw a straight line joining P_3 and P_4. Keep extending the line until it meets the mirror.
(b(ii))[1]
Measure the angle of reflection r.
(c)[1]
State one precaution that the student should use when placing the pins to obtain an accurate value for r.
Worked solution & mark scheme
This 5-mark question has a full step-by-step worked solution and mark scheme. One marking point: “A 10.0 cm line with the end marked D” …