AP Physics 2 Flashcards: Reflection

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on Reflection, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for AP Physics 2.

How to use these flashcards

Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: How does a plane mirror affect the size of an image?

Answer: The image size is the same as the object size. Plane mirrors produce images with magnification of 1.

Flashcard 2: What is the incident ray in reflection?

Answer: The ray that approaches and strikes a surface. The incoming light ray before reflection occurs.

Flashcard 3: What happens to light when it reflects off a smooth surface?

Answer: It reflects at the same angle as it hit the surface. This describes specular reflection from smooth surfaces.

Flashcard 4: State the formula for the reflection of light off a plane surface.

Answer: $\theta_i = \theta_r$. Mathematical expression of the law of reflection.

Flashcard 5: What is the focal length in terms of radius of curvature?

Answer: $f = \frac{R}{2}$, where $R$ is the radius of curvature. Focal length is half the radius of curvature.

Flashcard 6: Does reflection change the frequency of light?

Answer: No, frequency remains unchanged. Frequency is an intrinsic property of light that remains constant.

Flashcard 7: What is diffuse reflection?

Answer: Reflection from a rough surface, scattering light. Allows us to see objects from multiple angles.

Flashcard 8: What is the effect of reflection on the wavelength of light?

Answer: Wavelength remains unchanged. Wavelength depends only on the medium, which doesn't change.

Flashcard 9: What is the reflected ray?

Answer: The ray that bounces off the reflecting surface. The outgoing light ray after reflection occurs.

Flashcard 10: How does a concave mirror affect light rays?

Answer: Converges light rays to a focal point. Concave shape focuses light inward.

Flashcard 11: What is the angle of reflection?

Answer: The angle between the reflected ray and the normal. Also measured from the normal to the surface.

Flashcard 12: Which ray diagram rule is used for reflection in mirrors?

Answer: Incident and reflected rays are symmetric about the normal. Geometric principle for constructing ray diagrams.

Flashcard 13: What is a real-life example of diffuse reflection?

Answer: Light reflecting off a paper. Paper's rough surface scatters light in all directions.

Flashcard 14: State a use of concave mirrors.

Answer: Used in headlights to focus light. Concave mirrors can focus parallel light rays to a point.

Flashcard 15: State the magnification formula for mirrors.

Answer: Magnification $m = -\frac{d_i}{d_o}$. Negative sign indicates image inversion relative to object.

Flashcard 16: What is the effect of reflection on the speed of light?

Answer: Speed of light remains unchanged. Light stays in the same medium during reflection.

Flashcard 17: How does a plane mirror affect the size of an image?

Answer: The image size is the same as the object size. Plane mirrors produce images with magnification of 1.

Flashcard 18: How does a convex mirror affect light rays?

Answer: Diverges light rays. Convex shape spreads light outward.

Flashcard 19: Which type of reflection is used in mirrors?

Answer: Specular reflection. Mirrors need predictable, uniform reflection patterns.

Flashcard 20: What is the vertex in mirror terminology?

Answer: The point where the principal axis meets the mirror. The geometric center point of the mirror surface.

Flashcard 21: Which ray diagram rule is used for reflection in mirrors?

Answer: Incident and reflected rays are symmetric about the normal. Geometric principle for constructing ray diagrams.

Flashcard 22: What is the sign of the focal length for concave mirrors?

Answer: Positive. Concave mirrors have positive focal lengths by convention.

Flashcard 23: Identify the normal in reflection.

Answer: A line perpendicular to the surface at the point of incidence. Essential reference line for measuring reflection angles.

Flashcard 24: How does a concave mirror affect light rays?

Answer: Converges light rays to a focal point. Concave shape focuses light inward.

Flashcard 25: What is the principal focus in a concave mirror?

Answer: The point where parallel rays converge after reflection. Where parallel rays meet after reflecting from a concave mirror.

Flashcard 26: What is the principal axis of a mirror?

Answer: A line perpendicular to the mirror's surface passing through its center. Central reference line for mirror geometry and calculations.

Flashcard 27: What is the radius of curvature in mirror terminology?

Answer: The radius of the sphere of which the mirror is a part. Determines the mirror's curvature and focal length.

Flashcard 28: Identify the image characteristics in a plane mirror.

Answer: Virtual, upright, and same size as object. Standard characteristics of plane mirror images.

Flashcard 29: What is the mirror equation?

Answer: $\frac{1}{f} = \frac{1}{d_o} + \frac{1}{d_i}$. Relates focal length to object and image distances.

Flashcard 30: What is diffuse reflection?

Answer: Reflection from a rough surface, scattering light. Allows us to see objects from multiple angles.

Flashcard 31: What type of surface causes diffuse reflection?

Answer: A rough surface. Microscopic irregularities scatter light in many directions.

Flashcard 32: What is the effect of reflection on the wavelength of light?

Answer: Wavelength remains unchanged. Wavelength depends only on the medium, which doesn't change.

Flashcard 33: What is the vertex in mirror terminology?

Answer: The point where the principal axis meets the mirror. The geometric center point of the mirror surface.

Flashcard 34: What happens to light when it reflects off a rough surface?

Answer: It scatters in different directions. This describes diffuse reflection from rough surfaces.

Flashcard 35: What is the reflected ray?

Answer: The ray that bounces off the reflecting surface. The outgoing light ray after reflection occurs.

Flashcard 36: Identify the image characteristics in a plane mirror.

Answer: Virtual, upright, and same size as object. Standard characteristics of plane mirror images.

Flashcard 37: What type of surface causes diffuse reflection?

Answer: A rough surface. Microscopic irregularities scatter light in many directions.

Flashcard 38: What is the angle of incidence?

Answer: The angle between the incident ray and the normal. Measured from the normal, not the surface itself.

Flashcard 39: State a use of convex mirrors.

Answer: Used as security mirrors to provide a wide field of view. Convex mirrors provide wide-angle views for safety.

Flashcard 40: What is the focal length in terms of radius of curvature?

Answer: $f = \frac{R}{2}$, where $R$ is the radius of curvature. Focal length is half the radius of curvature.

Flashcard 41: What type of image is formed by a plane mirror?

Answer: A virtual image. Cannot be projected on a screen, appears behind the mirror.

Flashcard 42: Does reflection change the frequency of light?

Answer: No, frequency remains unchanged. Frequency is an intrinsic property of light that remains constant.

Flashcard 43: What is the radius of curvature in mirror terminology?

Answer: The radius of the sphere of which the mirror is a part. Determines the mirror's curvature and focal length.

Flashcard 44: Identify the normal in reflection.

Answer: A line perpendicular to the surface at the point of incidence. Essential reference line for measuring reflection angles.

Flashcard 45: What happens to light when it reflects off a rough surface?

Answer: It scatters in different directions. This describes diffuse reflection from rough surfaces.

Flashcard 46: What is the mirror equation?

Answer: $\frac{1}{f} = \frac{1}{d_o} + \frac{1}{d_i}$. Relates focal length to object and image distances.

Flashcard 47: What is the principal axis of a mirror?

Answer: A line perpendicular to the mirror's surface passing through its center. Central reference line for mirror geometry and calculations.

Flashcard 48: What type of surface causes specular reflection?

Answer: A smooth surface. Surface roughness determines reflection type.

Flashcard 49: How does a convex mirror affect light rays?

Answer: Diverges light rays. Convex shape spreads light outward.

Flashcard 50: What is specular reflection?

Answer: Reflection from a smooth surface in a single direction. Creates clear reflections like mirrors.

Flashcard 51: What happens to light when it reflects off a smooth surface?

Answer: It reflects at the same angle as it hit the surface. This describes specular reflection from smooth surfaces.

Flashcard 52: State the formula for the reflection of light off a plane surface.

Answer: $\theta_i = \theta_r$. Mathematical expression of the law of reflection.

Flashcard 53: Determine the image orientation in a convex mirror.

Answer: The image is virtual and upright. Convex mirrors always produce diminished, virtual, upright images.

Flashcard 54: What is the effect of reflection on the speed of light?

Answer: Speed of light remains unchanged. Light stays in the same medium during reflection.

Flashcard 55: What is the law of reflection?

Answer: Angle of incidence = Angle of reflection. This fundamental law states that light reflects symmetrically about the normal.

Flashcard 56: Which mirror type is used in solar furnaces?

Answer: Concave mirrors are used to focus sunlight. Concave mirrors concentrate solar energy for heating applications.

Flashcard 57: What is the angle of incidence?

Answer: The angle between the incident ray and the normal. Measured from the normal, not the surface itself.

Flashcard 58: What is the sign of the focal length for concave mirrors?

Answer: Positive. Concave mirrors have positive focal lengths by convention.

Flashcard 59: What is the principal focus in a concave mirror?

Answer: The point where parallel rays converge after reflection. Where parallel rays meet after reflecting from a concave mirror.

Flashcard 60: What type of image is formed by a plane mirror?

Answer: A virtual image. Cannot be projected on a screen, appears behind the mirror.

Flashcard 61: What type of surface causes specular reflection?

Answer: A smooth surface. Surface roughness determines reflection type.

Flashcard 62: What is the sign of the focal length for convex mirrors?

Answer: Negative. Convex mirrors have negative focal lengths by convention.

Flashcard 63: Which type of reflection is used in mirrors?

Answer: Specular reflection. Mirrors need predictable, uniform reflection patterns.

Flashcard 64: State a use of concave mirrors.

Answer: Used in headlights to focus light. Concave mirrors can focus parallel light rays to a point.

Flashcard 65: What is the angle of reflection?

Answer: The angle between the reflected ray and the normal. Also measured from the normal to the surface.

Flashcard 66: What is specular reflection?

Answer: Reflection from a smooth surface in a single direction. Creates clear reflections like mirrors.

Flashcard 67: Identify the mirror type that always produces a virtual image.

Answer: A convex mirror. Convex mirrors cannot form real images due to their diverging nature.

Flashcard 68: Determine the image orientation in a convex mirror.

Answer: The image is virtual and upright. Convex mirrors always produce diminished, virtual, upright images.

Flashcard 69: State the magnification formula for mirrors.

Answer: Magnification $m = -\frac{d_i}{d_o}$. Negative sign indicates image inversion relative to object.

Flashcard 70: What is a real-life example of diffuse reflection?

Answer: Light reflecting off a paper. Paper's rough surface scatters light in all directions.

Flashcard 71: What is the incident ray in reflection?

Answer: The ray that approaches and strikes a surface. The incoming light ray before reflection occurs.

Flashcard 72: Which mirror type is used in solar furnaces?

Answer: Concave mirrors are used to focus sunlight. Concave mirrors concentrate solar energy for heating applications.

Flashcard 73: State a use of convex mirrors.

Answer: Used as security mirrors to provide a wide field of view. Convex mirrors provide wide-angle views for safety.

Flashcard 74: What is the law of reflection?

Answer: Angle of incidence = Angle of reflection. This fundamental law states that light reflects symmetrically about the normal.

Flashcard 75: What is the sign of the focal length for convex mirrors?

Answer: Negative. Convex mirrors have negative focal lengths by convention.

Flashcard 76: Identify the mirror type that always produces a virtual image.

Answer: A convex mirror. Convex mirrors cannot form real images due to their diverging nature.