Investigating reflection
In this activity, students investigate specular and diffuse reflection by looking into a dark box and shining a torch at various objects, coloured paper and a mirror.
Darkened reflection box
This box is used to investigate reflection of light. The box has been darkened with black paper. Students look through a viewing hole into the box to observe how light from a torch reflects from various objects.
By the end of this activity, students should be able to:
describe how objects can only be seen if there is a light source
explain that diffuse reflection is when light reflects off a rough surface and travels in all different directions
explain that specular reflection is when light reflects off a mirror or other shiny surface and that the angle of reflection is always the same as the angle of incidence
describe how different coloured objects only reflect certain colours of light
describe how different colours of reflected light can combine to produce new colours.
Download the Word file (see link below) for:
introduction/background notes
what you need
what to do
discussion questions
student handout.
