Reflection Lab
Purpose
Construct a ray diagram of the reflection of light off a plane mirror.
Materials
cardboard, pins, ruler and a mirror
Directions
1. Stick a pin into the cardboard at point “C”.
2. Stick a second pin halfway between the points “A” and “N”. This pin will be referred to as the object so label it “O”.
3. Place the mirror on its long edge. With the reflective surface facing point “N” and perpendicular (^) to the page, center the mirror along line AB.
4. Place your eye, eye level with the sheet of paper.
2. Stick a second pin halfway between the points “A” and “N”. This pin will be referred to as the object so label it “O”.
3. Place the mirror on its long edge. With the reflective surface facing point “N” and perpendicular (^) to the page, center the mirror along line AB.
4. Place your eye, eye level with the sheet of paper.
5. Take a third pin and move it along the line BN. While looking back towards the pin at point “C” from the third pin, line up all three pins (third pin, pin at point “C” and the reflection of the pin from point “O”).
6. Stick the third pin into the cardboard when you have aligned all three pins and label it “R”.
7. Remove the mirror.
8. Draw a line from point “O” to point “C”.
9. Draw a line from point “R” through point “C”.
10. Draw a line perpendicular to line AB that starts at point “O” and intersects line CR.
11. Label the point where this line intersects line AB, point “X”, and where it intersects line CR, point “I”.
12. Answer the questions on the lab document.
13. Call your teacher over when finished.
6. Stick the third pin into the cardboard when you have aligned all three pins and label it “R”.
7. Remove the mirror.
8. Draw a line from point “O” to point “C”.
9. Draw a line from point “R” through point “C”.
10. Draw a line perpendicular to line AB that starts at point “O” and intersects line CR.
11. Label the point where this line intersects line AB, point “X”, and where it intersects line CR, point “I”.
12. Answer the questions on the lab document.
13. Call your teacher over when finished.