What name is given to reflection from a smooth surface? The student measured the angle of reflection for different angles of incidence - AQA - GCSE Physics - Question 7 - 2023 - Paper 2

From the results in Table 2, it can be concluded that the angle of reflection is approximately equal to the angle of incidence. Specifically, they follow the law of reflection, indicating that as the angle of incidence increases, the angle of reflection also increases correspondingly.

The type of error that caused the variation in the results for the angle of reflection is a random error. This can occur due to factors like the student's eye or head not being in the same position each time, or misalignment of the protractor.

Refraction has not occurred in Figure 18 because the ray of light is entering the glass block at a normal angle (90 degrees) to the surface. When light hits the boundary at this angle, it continues in a straight line without bending.

The student should not have recorded the measurements because the resolution of the protractor is 1°. This means that it cannot accurately measure angles to a precision of 0.1° (like 6.0°, 6.3°, 6.4°, and 5.8°) because the results fall within the protractor's limitation of measurement granularity.

Refraction occurs at the boundary between air and glass due to differences in the velocity of light in these two mediums. As the wave fronts of light enter the glass, they slow down and change direction, causing the light to bend. This bending happens because different parts of the wave front enter the glass at different times, leading to a change in speed at the boundary, which results in refraction.