Science Waves, Light & Soundusually ages 12–13

Drawing Ray Diagrams

Draw ray diagrams to show reflection at a plane mirror (angle of incidence = angle of reflection) and refraction at a boundary between media; use ray diagrams to locate images and explain how lenses and mirrors work

How to tell they’ve got it

Tick these off as you see them — no test required.

Draw a ray diagram for a plane mirror showing the incident ray, normal, reflected ray, and virtual image
Draw a ray diagram showing a ray bending towards the normal when passing from air into glass
Use a ray diagram to locate the image formed by a convex lens and describe whether it is real or virtual

🖨 Print this page to keep the checklist — it prints beautifully.

Try this together

Can your child draw a diagram showing how a ray of light bounces off a mirror or bends when it passes from air into glass — labelling the angles correctly?

Where this sits on the map

Stuck here? Check the skills it builds on first. Confident? Here’s what it unlocks.

Builds on

Measuring anglesages 9–10Drawing ray diagrams requires measuring angles accurately with a protractor — the core skill in mt_4MFUAsbx_6

Drawing Ray Diagramsthis skill · ages 12–13

Unlocks

Reflection & Refractionages 11–12The law of reflection is described and verified using ray diagrams for reflection

solid = must come firstdashed = helps

Curriculum alignment

Candidate matches to official curriculum codes — machine-suggested, unreviewed (v0.1).

This skill sits beyond Year 6 in the Australian Curriculum, so no F–6 code is matched. It also sits beyond the NSW K–6 syllabuses. It also sits beyond Level 6 in the Victorian Curriculum.

Nearby on the map

Ray Diagrams & Imagesages 12–13 The Electromagnetic Spectrumages 12–13 Waves & Different Materialsages 12–13 How Sound Waves Travelages 11–12

All Waves, Light & Sound skills →