S2 Science: Reflection, Refraction And Dispersion Of Light (Paper 1 (basics))

S2 Science: Reflection, Refraction and Dispersion of Light (Paper 1 (basics))

2026-11-14

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Tutor Prep Guide · The law of reflection and plane mirror images, judging refraction direction, prism dispersion and total internal reflection

S2 Science: Reflection, Refraction and Dispersion of Light (Paper 1 (basics))

This paper covers the law of reflection, plane mirror images and the basic direction of refraction, with one speed of light calculation.

Direct answers　The angle of reflection equals the angle of incidence, both measured from the normal, and a plane mirror gives a virtual image as far behind as the object is in front.

01　Paper details (check answers afterwards)

Item	Detail
Questions	10
Suggested time	20
Difficulty mix	Foundation 3 · Intermediate 3 · Challenge 3 · Error redo 1
Chapter	Chapter: S2 Science: Reflection, Refraction and Dispersion of Light
Level	S2

02　Questions (10 items)

FoundationA ray hits a plane mirror with an angle of incidence of 30 degrees. What is the angle of reflection?
FoundationIf the angle of incidence is 25 degrees, what is the angle between the incident and reflected rays?
FoundationAn object is 12 cm in front of a plane mirror. How far is the image from the object?
IntermediateA ray strikes a mirror along the normal, so the angle of incidence is 0 degrees. What is the angle of reflection?
IntermediateA plane mirror is turned through 15 degrees. Through what angle does the reflected ray turn?
IntermediateLight passes from air into glass with an angle of incidence of 40 degrees and an angle of refraction of 25 degrees. Which way does it bend?
ChallengeLight travels at 3×10⁸ m/s and the Sun is about 1.5×10¹¹ m away. How many seconds does sunlight take to reach Earth?
ChallengeTwo plane mirrors are set at 90 degrees and a ray is reflected once at each. Through what total angle does the ray turn?
ChallengeYou raise your right hand in front of a plane mirror. Which hand does the image raise?
Error redoA student says the angle of reflection is 60 degrees, the angle between the ray and the mirror surface, when the angle of incidence is 30 degrees. What is wrong?

03　Answers and one-line notes

#	Answer	One-line note
1	30 degrees	The angle of reflection equals the angle of incidence, both measured from the normal.
2	50 degrees	Each side is 25 degrees, so the two together make 50 degrees.
3	24 cm	The image is 12 cm behind the mirror, so the object to image distance is 24 cm.
4	0 degrees	A ray along the normal is reflected back along the same line.
5	30 degrees	When the mirror turns through theta the reflected ray turns through twice theta.
6	Towards the normal	In the denser medium light slows down, so the angle of refraction is smaller.
7	500 seconds	Divide 1.5×10¹¹ by 3×10⁸ to get 500 seconds.
8	180 degrees	Each reflection turns the ray by 90 degrees, so the ray returns along the opposite direction.
9	The left hand	A plane mirror reverses front and back, which looks like a left right reversal.
10	The angle of reflection is 30 degrees because angles are measured from the normal, not from the surface.	Using the wrong reference line is the most common way to lose marks here.

04　What to do after marking

After marking, redo only the wrong items and write down which step went wrong (formula, unit, or misread number).
Repeat the same item two days later; move to the next paper only when both attempts are correct.
Parents only need the answer and note columns; there is no need to explain every item.

For light questions ask three things: whether angles are measured from the normal, whether light goes from a denser to a less dense medium or the other way, and how many refractions occur.Tutor Registration →

Questions and answers are written originally by the TutorZone team and are not taken from any school, publisher or examination authority paper. Every value is checked by computer.