Mirrors (Concave, Convex, Flat)

Outcomes Students will be expected to  describe the laws of reflection of visible light and their applications in everyday life (308-9)  regular vs diffuse reflection  angle of incidence = angle of reflection  formulate operational definitions for incidence, reflection, and the normal (208-7)

Assessment Students are able to demonstrate and explain the laws of reflection. Students are able to demonstrate and explain how the shape of a mirror affects the image. Students are able to use the terms “incidence”, “reflection” and “the normal” correctly.

Questions What did you observe when working with different types of mirrors? How does the shape of a concave and convex mirror affect the image seen in the mirror? Draw diagrams, showing the angles of incidence and reflection that show your understanding of the reflections in mirrors of different shapes.

Materials plain mirror, concave mirror, convex mirror, double plane mirrors and protractor, activity sheet.

Procedure Allow students time to explore plain, concave and convex mirrors. After they have had time to explore their properties, give students a plain mirror and have them discuss what they observed about the reflected image. Give students a concave and convex mirror and have them record and discuss the differences between them. Have them use the mirrors to view objects. Have them record what they observed. Discuss as a class what they observed. Have students examine reflections in a pair of plane mirrors, held at various angles. They should explore the number of reflections they see, compared to the angle at which the two mirrors are placed. They should record their observations. Discuss the laws of reflection, and their connection to the images viewed in the mirrors. Students should recognize that for each ray, the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.

Convex, Concave and Flat Mirrors, Science 8 Conference Day 2008 Activity Sheet : Mirrors

Mirror Type Illustration of the image as Illustration of the light rays Description of the image as viewed in the mirror reflected in the mirror viewed in the mirror

Flat Mirror (include angles of incidence and reflection)

Concave Mirror

Convex Mirror

Two Plane Mirrors

Convex, Concave and Flat Mirrors, Science 8 Conference Day 2008