lesson
Light can change direction
1 · Learn
When light reaches a surface, some can reflect: travel away in a different direction. A smooth mirror can produce a clear reflection.
Other surfaces also reflect light, but spread it in many directions. A white page reflects light even though you cannot see a sharp mirror image in it.
2 · Worked example
I compare a mirror and paper using safe room light. Both can reflect light, but only the mirror gives a clear image of my face.
3 · Your turn
Does a surface have to show a clear image to reflect light?
Check your answer
No. Paper and many other surfaces reflect light without making a clear image.
4 · Apply your learning
Use an adult-approved plastic mirror to observe reflected objects. Draw a simple light path with arrows.
Adult guidance and safety
No glass mirrors with sharp edges, concentrated sunlight, lasers or directing lights into eyes.
Open your writing and drawing pad
Write, draw or show your working. Use a mouse, pen or finger. This pad is not a submitted answer.
Not saved to your account. Download your drawing as PNG and your typed notes as TXT before leaving or refreshing. They are separate files. Do not enter private information.
Open a picture saved on this device to draw on it again. Opening replaces the drawing, but Undo can restore it. PNG only, up to 4 MB and 4096 × 4096 pixels. The picture stays in this browser; it is not uploaded. Paper lines in a saved picture become part of that picture.
Clear the drawing? Your typed notes will stay. You can undo this action.
Your pad is empty.
Open a UTF-8 TXT file from this device, up to 40 KB and 10,000 characters. It stays in this browser. Opening can be undone until you type again. Downloads keep a new copy; they do not change the file you opened.
Replace the notes on this page with the opened file? Download the current notes first if you want to keep them.
Typed notes are not submitted answers.
My observation notebook
With an adult, look at a safe real example or a checked photograph. Name the example and say which you used. Record what you actually notice. Do not taste plants or materials, approach unknown animals or invent missing observations.
Ask your teacher for support with the method and recording. A prediction is what you think might happen; an observation is what you actually see, hear or feel safely.
Keep your notebook: use Download notebook before leaving. Nothing is sent to the website or saved to your account. Reopen the downloaded notebook here to add another day's record. Do not include names, addresses or other private information.
Your records on this page
No observations recorded yet. Look first, then add one.
Reopening adds records; it does not replace your current records. Up to 50 records per notebook. Keep your downloads somewhere private. Editing this notebook does not submit work or complete a lesson.
Practice this lesson
Lesson resources
Browse the available practice activities and worksheets for this lesson.
Your progress