Reflection of light
3.2.1What the syllabus asks of you
- Define and use the terms normal, angle of incidence and angle of reflection
- Describe an experiment to illustrate the law of reflection
- Describe an experiment to find the position and characteristics of an optical image formed by a plane mirror (same size, same distance from mirror as object and virtual)
- State that for reflection, the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection and use this in constructions, measurements and calculations
Read the notes first
Chapter 3: Reflection of light
Drill this topic
Every question on Reflection of light, untimed, marked as you go.
Make a worksheet
Choose the years and how many questions, then print it with the answers on separate pages.
26 questions
1May / June 2026 · Paper 11 · Q21Show mark scheme →
A40°
B50°
C80°
D100°
Mark scheme
2May / June 2026 · Paper 12 · Q24Show mark scheme →
AIt decreases by 1.0 m.
BIt decreases by 2.0 m.
CIt increases by 1.0 m.
DIt increases by 2.0 m.
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3Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 11 · Q19Also set in May / June 2019 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
A10°
B25°
C45°
D50°
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4Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 12 · Q28Show mark scheme →
AA
BB
CC
DD
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5Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 12 · Q29Show mark scheme →
Areal and smaller than the object
Breal and the same size as the object
Cvirtual and smaller than the object
Dvirtual and the same size as the object
Mark scheme
6May / June 2025 · Paper 11 · Q19Show mark scheme →
AA
BB
CC
DD
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7May / June 2025 · Paper 11 · Q20Show mark scheme →
A0
B25 cm
C50 cm
D75 cm
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8May / June 2025 · Paper 12 · Q21Show mark scheme →
Aangle of incidence / °: 40; angle of reflection / °: 40
Bangle of incidence / °: 40; angle of reflection / °: 50
Cangle of incidence / °: 50; angle of reflection / °: 40
Dangle of incidence / °: 50; angle of reflection / °: 50
Mark scheme
9Oct / Nov 2024 · Paper 12 · Q20Show mark scheme →
A30°
B60°
C90°
D120°
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10Oct / Nov 2024 · Paper 12 · Q21Show mark scheme →
AO upright, I upright
BO upright, I inverted
CO upright, I upright
DO upright, I inverted
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11May / June 2024 · Paper 11 · Q23Show mark scheme →
Asame as object, real
Bsame as object, virtual
Csmaller than object, real
Dsmaller than object, virtual
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12Oct / Nov 2023 · Paper 11 · Q18Show mark scheme →
Areal and inverted
Breal and upright
Cvirtual and inverted
Dvirtual and upright
Mark scheme
13Oct / Nov 2023 · Paper 12 · Q26Show mark scheme →
AA
BB
CC
DD
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14May / June 2023 · Paper 11 · Q19Also set in May / June 2018 Paper 11, May / June 2018 Paper 12Show mark scheme →
AA
BB
CC
DD
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15May / June 2023 · Paper 11 · Q20Show mark scheme →
A22.5° clockwise
B22.5° anticlockwise
C45° clockwise
D45° anticlockwise
Mark scheme
16May / June 2023 · Paper 12 · Q19Show mark scheme →
Areal and upside down
Bvirtual and upright
Creal and larger than the object
Dvirtual and smaller than the object
Mark scheme
17Oct / Nov 2022 · Paper 12 · Q22Also set in Oct / Nov 2022 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
A40°
B90°
C100°
D140°
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18May / June 2022 · Paper 12 · Q24Show mark scheme →
AThe angle between PQ and QR is 45°.
BThe angle between QR and RS is 180°.
CThe angle of incidence of PQ on mirror X is 60°.
DThe angle of incidence of QR on mirror Y is 45°.
Mark scheme
19Oct / Nov 2021 · Paper 12 · Q23Show mark scheme →
Asymbol of angle X: i; relationship between X and Y: X = Y
Bsymbol of angle X: i; relationship between X and Y: X + Y = 90°
Csymbol of angle X: r; relationship between X and Y: X = Y
Dsymbol of angle X: r; relationship between X and Y: X + Y = 90°
Mark scheme
20Oct / Nov 2020 · Paper 11 · Q27Show mark scheme →
AP ✓ Q ✓ R ✓
BP ✓ Q ✓ R ✗
CP ✓ Q ✗ R ✗
DP ✗ Q ✗ R ✗
Mark scheme
21Oct / Nov 2020 · Paper 12 · Q23Show mark scheme →
Areal, inverted and smaller than the object
Breal, upright and the same size as the object
Cvirtual, upright and smaller than the object
Dvirtual, upright and the same size as the object
Mark scheme
22Oct / Nov 2019 · Paper 12 · Q24Show mark scheme →
AIt reflects and passes through the bottom of O.
BIt reflects and passes through the top of O.
CIt reflects as though it came from the bottom of I.
DIt reflects as though it came from the top of I.
Mark scheme
23Oct / Nov 2017 · Paper 12 · Q20Show mark scheme →
Adiagram A
Bdiagram B
Cdiagram C
Ddiagram D
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24Oct / Nov 2016 · Paper 11 · Q23Show mark scheme →
A30°
B40°
C50°
D60°
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25May / June 2016 · Paper 11 · Q21Show mark scheme →
Adiagram A
Bdiagram B
Cdiagram C
Ddiagram D
Mark scheme
26May / June 2016 · Paper 12 · Q18Show mark scheme →
A40° normal
B40° reflected ray
C50° normal
D50° reflected ray
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