Photo AI
Figure 7 shows the apparatus a student used to investigate the reflection of light by a plane mirror - AQA - GCSE Physics - Question 5 - 2018 - Paper 1
Question 5
Figure 7 shows the apparatus a student used to investigate the reflection of light by a plane mirror. The student drew four ray diagrams for each angle of incidence... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Figure 7 shows the apparatus a student used to investigate the reflection of light by a plane mirror - AQA - GCSE Physics - Question 5 - 2018 - Paper 1
Step 1
05.1 For each angle of incidence, the angle of reflection has a range of values.
Answer
The type of error that caused each angle of reflection to have a range of values is random error. This can arise from human error when measuring the angles, such as misjudging the center of the protractor or misaligning the rays.
Step 2
05.2 Suggest what the student may have done during the investigation to cause each angle of reflection to have a range of values.
Answer
The student may have misjudged the angle while measuring using the protractor, or did not ensure that the ray box and the mirror were fixed in the same position throughout the tests. This inconsistency would lead to variations in the measured angles of reflection.
Step 3
05.3 Estimate the uncertainty in the angle of reflection when the angle of incidence is 50°.
Answer
The uncertainty can be estimated by identifying the range of the angle of reflection measured in the table for the 50° incidence angle. The values are 56°, 49°, 53°, and 46°. The range is from 46° to 56°, resulting in an uncertainty estimate of ±5°.
Step 4
05.4 The student concluded that for a plane mirror, the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.
Answer
I agree with the student's conclusion that the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection. For example, in Test 2 where the angle of incidence is 40°, the angle of reflection measured is consistently around 40° in most tests, confirming that the angles are approximately equal.
Step 5
05.5 What extra evidence could be collected to support the student's conclusion?
Answer
To support the student's conclusion, further results could be collected for angles of incidence not yet measured, such as 10° or 60°. This would enhance the dataset and provide a more comprehensive validation of the conclusion.
Step 6
05.6 State one change the student should make to the apparatus if he wants to use the same method to investigate diffuse reflection.
Answer
The student should replace the plane mirror with an irregular reflecting surface to investigate diffuse reflection. This would allow the study of how light reflects off surfaces of varying texture and orientation.