Cambridge IGCSE Physics3.2 Light Checklist
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What's on this checklist
Core
- I can define and use the terms normal, angle of incidence and angle of reflection.
- I can describe how a plane mirror forms an optical image, and give the image's characteristics: the same size, the same distance from the mirror, and virtual.
- I can state that, in reflection, the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection, and I can recall and use this relationship.
- I can define and use the terms normal, angle of incidence and angle of refraction.
- I can describe an experiment that shows the refraction of light by transparent blocks of different shapes.
- I can describe how light passes through a transparent material (only at the boundaries between two mediums).
- I can state what is meant by the critical angle.
- I can describe internal reflection and total internal reflection, using both experimental and everyday examples.
- I can describe what thin converging lenses and thin diverging lenses do to a parallel beam of light.
- I can define and use the terms focal length, principal axis and principal focus (focal point).
- I can draw and use ray diagrams to show how a converging lens forms a real image.
- I can describe the characteristics of an image using the terms enlarged/same size/diminished, upright/inverted and real/virtual.
- I know that a virtual image is formed where diverging rays, extrapolated backwards, meet, and that it does not form a visible projection on a screen.
- I can describe the dispersion of light, as shown when a glass prism refracts white light.
- I know the traditional seven colours of the visible spectrum, in order of frequency and in order of wavelength.
Extended
- I can use simple constructions, measurements and calculations for reflection by plane mirrors.
- I can define refractive index, n, as the ratio of the speeds of a wave in two different regions.
- I can recall and use the equation n = sin i / sin r.
- I can recall and use the equation n = 1 / sin c.
- I can describe how optical fibres are used, especially in telecommunications.
- I can draw and use ray diagrams to show how a converging lens forms a virtual image.
- I can describe how a single lens is used as a magnifying glass.
- I can describe how converging lenses and diverging lenses are used to correct long-sightedness and short-sightedness.
- I can recall that visible light of a single frequency is described as monochromatic.