Science Waves, Light & Soundusually ages 12–13

Ray Diagrams & Images

Construct ray diagrams to show the formation of images by plane mirrors and converging lenses, identifying whether images are real or virtual, magnified or diminished, upright or inverted

How to tell they’ve got it

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

Draws an accurate ray diagram for a plane mirror showing a virtual, upright, same-size image
Draws a ray diagram for a converging lens to show image formation
Uses a ray diagram to determine whether the image is real or virtual and which side of the lens it forms
Applies ray diagram knowledge to explain how glasses, cameras, or projectors work

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

Try this together

If your child was asked to show on a diagram where their reflection appears to be when they look in a mirror, could they draw the correct ray paths and explain whether the image is real or virtual — and where it actually appears to be located?

Where this sits on the map

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

Builds on

Reflection & Refractionages 11–12Ray diagrams formalise the laws of reflection and refraction established in the prerequisite topic

White Light & Colourages 11–12Ray diagrams for prisms and lenses connect to colour and dispersion concepts

Ray Diagrams & Imagesthis skill · ages 12–13

Unlocks

Nothing on the map depends on this yet.

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

Drawing Ray Diagramsages 12–13 The Electromagnetic Spectrumages 12–13 Waves & Different Materialsages 12–13 How Sound Waves Travelages 11–12

All Waves, Light & Sound skills →