AQA · Physics · 8463

GCSE Physics: Visible light

Waves · AQA GCSE Physics (8463), specification point 4.6.2.6. Cards are generated from the exam board's own specification for "Visible light", and every card links back to the page it came from. Separate science only. Specification © AQA — used with attribution.

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  1. What is specular reflection?

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    Reflection from a smooth surface in a single direction.

  2. What is diffuse reflection?

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    Reflection from a rough surface, which scatters the light in many directions.

  3. Reflection from a rough surface that scatters light is called ? reflection.

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    diffuse

  4. How does a colour filter work?

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    It absorbs certain wavelengths (colours) of light and transmits the others.

  5. What does each colour in the visible spectrum have that distinguishes it?

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    Its own narrow band of wavelength and frequency.

  6. What determines the colour of an opaque object?

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    Which wavelengths of light it reflects most strongly; the wavelengths not reflected are absorbed.

  7. Why does an opaque object appear white?

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    It reflects all wavelengths of visible light equally.

  8. Why does an opaque object appear black?

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    It absorbs all wavelengths of visible light, so none is reflected.

  9. What happens to wavelengths of light that an opaque object does not reflect?

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    They are absorbed.

  10. Objects that transmit light are classed as which two types?

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    Transparent or translucent.

  11. Reflection from a smooth surface in a single direction is called ? reflection.

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    specular

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