New
New
Lesson 7 of 8
New
New
- Year 7
How we see things
I can explain how we see objects around us using our eyes.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Luminous objects give out light, non–luminous objects do not.
- All surfaces reflect light. Mirror–like surfaces reflect light in a regular way, other surfaces scatter light.
- For anything to be seen, light from it (either emitted or reflected) must enter the eye.
- Light enters the eye through a hole (the pupil) and is detected by the light–sensitive back surface (the retina).
- Beams of light can only be seen if the light hits something and reflects (or scatters) towards an eye.
Keywords
Luminous - Describes something that gives out light.
Non-luminous - Describes something that does not give out light.
Scatter - Surfaces that scatter light reflect light in many directions at once.
Pupil - The hole in the front of the eye that lets light into the eye.
Retina - The back surface of the eye that detects light.
Common misconception
Light only reflects off mirrors and shiny objects, and doesn't reflect off dull surfaces.
All surfaces reflect (some) light. Use ideas of reflected light to explain how we see all the objects around us.
On mini–whiteboards, ask pupils to sketch ray diagrams to show how they see a range of different objects – luminous, dull non–luminous, a reflection in a mirror (i.e. shiny non–luminous) – in order to consolidate understanding that we see when we detect light that falls into our eyes.
Teacher tip
Equipment
Torch, cardboard box, laser, water in a mister/fine spray bottle (for demonstrations).
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of the following words is the opposite of ‘smooth’?
Which of the following words is the opposite of ‘smooth’?
bright
shiny
dark
Q2.Which of the following words is the opposite of ‘shiny’?
Which of the following words is the opposite of ‘shiny’?
sticky
dark
black
Q3.Which of the following statements about light rays are correct?
Which of the following statements about light rays are correct?
A very thin beam of light can be made of only one ray.
Q4.The first law of reflection states that the angle of reflection equals …
The first law of reflection states that the angle of reflection equals …
a right angle.
the incident ray.
the reflected ray.
Q5.The second law of reflection states that the incident ray and the reflected ray are …
The second law of reflection states that the incident ray and the reflected ray are …
along the normal.
on the same side of the normal.
Q6.The third law of reflection states that the two rays and the normal are all …
The third law of reflection states that the two rays and the normal are all …
in different directions.
along the same line.
in different planes.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of the following objects are luminous?
Which of the following objects are luminous?
mirror
water
Q2.Three pupils make statements A, B and C.
A: only white objects reflect.
B: only shiny objects reflect.
C: you can see yourself in any object that reflects.
How many of the statements are correct?
Three pupils make statements A, B and C.
A: only white objects reflect.
B: only shiny objects reflect.
C: you can see yourself in any object that reflects.
How many of the statements are correct?
one
two
three
Q3.Which of the following statements describes when light obeys the laws of reflection?
Which of the following statements describes when light obeys the laws of reflection?
When light of any colour reflects off a smooth object.
When white light reflects off a smooth object.
When white light reflects off any object.
Q4.Which of the following is a definition for the pupil of the eye?
Which of the following is a definition for the pupil of the eye?
A hole in the back of the eye that lets light out.
The coloured part of the front of the eye.
The white part of the front of the eye.
Q5.The is the back surface of the eye that detects light.
The is the back surface of the eye that detects light.
Q6.A pupil shines a laser beam onto a wall. They can see a spot of light where the beam hits the wall, but cannot see the beam as it travels to the wall. Which of the following statements explains why?
A pupil shines a laser beam onto a wall. They can see a spot of light where the beam hits the wall, but cannot see the beam as it travels to the wall. Which of the following statements explains why?
Light travels too fast for you to see it.
You can only ever see light after it has reflected.
Light jumps straight from the laser to the wall without travelling between them.
