Reflecting Light
Notice that light is reflected from surfaces, and that shiny smooth surfaces reflect light best
What a learner can do afterwards
- Explain that light bounces off surfaces, which is called reflection
- Identify that smooth, shiny surfaces (mirrors, still water) reflect light best
- Give everyday examples of reflection: mirror, puddle, polished floor
The lesson
Light does not just disappear when it hits something. It can bounce off, just like a ball bouncing off a wall. This bounce is called reflection.
Not every surface bounces light the same way. Smooth, shiny surfaces like mirrors and still water bounce light in a neat pattern, so you see a clear picture. Rough surfaces, like a towel or a brick wall, scatter light in every direction, so there is no clear picture at all.
Mia looks into a still puddle after the rain. The water is smooth and flat, so it acts like a mirror and she sees her own face looking back at her. When the wind blows and ripples the water, her reflection breaks apart and gets blurry.
Next time you are inside, look for shiny, smooth things: a spoon, a window, a polished floor. If you can see a picture of yourself or the room in it, that surface is reflecting light well.
Light bounces off surfaces, and the smoother and shinier the surface, the clearer the reflection you see.
Watch it
Where it sits
This opens up
Where this leads
Jobs that lean on this skill. Follow one to see everything it is built on.
8 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.