Exploring the Science of Light
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Mirrors & the Law of Reflection


Required Materials

  • A flat mirror

  • A flashlight or laser

  • A piece of white paper or poster-board

  • A well-polished spoon

Activity Directions

  1. Shine the flashlight (or laser) on a flat mirror surface placed on a sheet of paper. Trace a pencil along the mirror/paper interface and the two light paths. What do you notice about the angle at which the light is reflected from the mirror?
  2. Look at one side of the spoon. Is your reflection upside down or rightside-up? Is it smaller or larger than your face? Turn the spoon around and make the same observations.
  3. The side of the spoon that caves inward is called concave and the side that bends outward is called convex.

Want to Learn More? Read an article related to this activity:

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