Reflection and Refraction in Lenses and Mirrors
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Objective
I can apply the laws of reflection and refraction to predict the path of light through lenses and mirrors.
Part 1 of 4
Warm-up video
CrashCourse · 9:40Vetted channel
We don't generate video — this one is by CrashCourse on YouTube. The practice questions and exit ticket below were drafted by AI for this objective, and every question is editable in the teacher guide.
Part 2 of 4
Key concepts
3 concepts
- 1
The ray model of light states that light travels in straight-line paths called rays, and the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection.
- 2
Refraction is the phenomenon of light rays changing direction when passing between media, and the angle of refraction is related to the angle of incidence by Snell's Law; for example, a straw in water appears bent due to refraction.
- 3
Lenses use refraction to form images, where converging lenses form real images when rays converge and diverging lenses form virtual images; the thin lens equation relates object distance, image distance, and focal length.
Part 3 of 4
Practice
10 questions
According to the law of reflection, what is the relationship between the angle of incidence and the angle of reflection when a light ray reflects off a surface?
Explain the phenomenon of refraction. What causes light to refract when it passes from one medium to another?
Part 4 of 4
Exit ticket
Quick comprehension check
“A flashlight is pointed at a flat mirror at an angle of 60° relative to the normal. At what angle relative to the normal will the light reflect?”
Sample answer included in the free materials
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Teacher guide, student handout, and slides — free, in Google Docs format
Teacher Guide
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