Objective – Investigate light reflected off of mirrors.
Mirror-to-Mirror
(source: Awesome Experiments in Light and Sound)
Introduction
Bathrooms are often great laboratories for exploring the properties of mirrors. The sink mirror reflects its image onto the door mirror. The door mirror reflects its image onto the shaving mirror. The shaving mirror reflects its image onto the make-up mirror. Pretty soon, you’re not alone. The bathroom is packed with thousands of people who look exactly like you – all trying to do science experiments!
Vocabulary
- Analyze (Analysis)
- Data
- Evidence
- Observe (Observation)
- Reflection
- Variable
Materials
- Two mirrors
- Clay
- Small toy
Procedure
1. Set two mirrors in a lump of clay. Position the mirrors so that they are about six inches apart.
2. Before placing the small toy between the two mirrors, estimate the number of images you will see. Write that number on your activity sheet.
3. Place the small toy between the two mirrors and count the images.
4. Tilt the mirrors and repeat the experiment.
5. Place the mirrors farther apart and repeat the experiment.
Group Members ______
______
Absent ______
Mirror-to-Mirror Worksheet
(source: Awesome Experiments in Light and Sound)
Part I, Mirrors Six Inches Apart.
I. Gather (collect data/evidence)
1. Our group estimates there will be ______images of the small toy.
2. After counting the images, we found there were ______images.
II. Mirrors Titled.
I. Gather (collect data/evidence)
1. Our group estimates there will be ______images of the small toy.
2. After counting the images, we found there were ______images.
II. Reasoning (Analysis/Analyze/What does the data I gathered mean?)
Review the data/evidence in Step I. Write your analysis of what it means.
III. Communication (Conclusion/This is what my data means)
Come to a conclusion and use your evidence from Part II to support your conclusion. You will answer the question – How does the tilt of a mirror affect the number of images?
Part III, Mirrors More Than Six Inches Apart.
I. Gather (collect data/evidence)
1. Our group estimates there will be ______images of the small toy.
2. After counting the images, we found there were ______images.
II. Reasoning (Analysis/Analyze/What does the data I gathered mean?)
Review the data/evidence in Step I. Write your analysis of what it means.
III. Communication (Conclusion/This is what my data means)
Come to a conclusion and use your evidence from Part II to support your conclusion. You will answer the question – How does distance affect the number of images formed?
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