ANGLE OF REFLECTION MIRRORS HOW TO

Although these mirror images make objects appear to be where they cannot be (like behind a solid wall), the images are not figments of your imagination. If the mirror is on the wall of a room, the images in it are all behind the mirror, which can make the room seem bigger. The angles are such that the image is exactly the same distance behind the mirror as you stand in front of the mirror. We see the light coming from a direction determined by the law of reflection. When you see yourself in a mirror, it appears that the image is actually behind the mirror ( (Figure)). (credit c: modification of work by Diego Torres Silvestre) (c) Moonlight is spread out when it is reflected by the lake, because the surface is shiny but uneven. Only the observer at a particular angle sees the reflected light. (b) A mirror illuminated by many parallel rays reflects them in only one direction, because its surface is very smooth. of incidence is changed and record whatĪs this is a qualitative investigation you do not need open minded to what happens.(a) When a sheet of paper is illuminated with many parallel incident rays, it can be seen at many different angles, because its surface is rough and diffuses the light. You now need to investigate what happens as the angle you see. a ray box so that it hits the glass block Replace the block and shine a single beam of light fromwhere the normal meets the block. Near the middle of the block’s side: this is called the normal and is used a reference line for Remove the block and draw a line at right angles to one of the long sides of the block somewhere DrawĪround it with a pencil to mark its position. Place a glass block laid down on its largest side in the middle of a sheet of A4 white paper. You are not being given any detailed instruction as to what to look for, therefore it is your This is a challenge to see what really happens rather than what you think might happen from Qualitative means to see what happens without taking any numerical measurements qualitatively investigate what happens when light passes through a

It is suggested that there is a simple connection between the angle of incidence and the angle of reflection.Ģ What are the biggest sources of uncertainty in your measurements?Ģ Could you put a number to the uncertainty in the measurements?Ģ Does your data support the connection you suggested in 2 above? INTRODUCTION TO REFRACTIONĪim To have a first look at light passing through substances.ġ In this experiment you will transparent material such as glass or plastic.

If theĪngle of incidence / degrees Angle of reflection / degrees

You will need a protractor toġ Repeat the procedure using different angles to getangles start to get a bit difficult to read because there are too many of them then use some fresh a total of five pairs of measurements. ), and the reflected ray and normal, ( angle of reflection ). Measure the angles between the incident ray and normal, ( angle of incidence measure the angles. You will need to work out a wirror this is called the incident ray ay of accurately.

irror to hit the mirror exactly where theġ Mark the positions of the light ray going to the mposition of the reflected ray. Doġ Use the ray box to send a single ray of light to the mnormal touches the mirror.

line it up with your drawn line on the paper. The normal is a line drawn in all optics experiments to measure anglesġ Replace the mirror on the paper, being careful to not move the mirror again. Mirror surface on the paper with a line drawn along the reflecting side (use a pencil).ġ Remove the mirror and draw a line at right angles to the mirror approximately near the middle.įrom.

ANGLE OF REFLECTION MIRRORS HOW TO

Aim To introduce the idea of uncertainty, and how to deal with it in experimental measurements.ġ Experiment to investigate the angles in reflectionġ Arrange a mirror in an upright position on a piece of A4 plain paper.

Angle of reflection mirrors