Exploratorium
Hot Spot
Not only does a concave mirror focus light waves, it can also concentrate infrared radiation into a hot spot. If you have a small electric heater and such a mirror, demonstrate this for your physical science class.
Exploratorium
Touch the Spring
Concave mirrors and the images they produce are traditional topics in the physics classroom. This resource explains how to set up an investigation of them, and it provides you with the explanation of concepts.
Curated OER
Light and Geometric Optics
It's time to see the light with a unit that focuses on light and geometric optics, including concave and convex mirrors. A variety of experiments, worksheets, and online activities are included.
Curated OER
Physics 152 Fall 2004 Final Exam, Parts A, B, C, D
At the end of a general physics course focused on light and electricity, you can administer this exam. Concepts covered include electromagnetism, circuits, induction, light rays, lenses and mirrors, characteristics of light, electron...
Curated OER
Reflection, Refraction & Lenses
Students are able to describe what happens to light when it strikes different materials. They describe the law of reflection. Students are able to explain why a mirror froms a virtual image. They are able to describe diffuse reflection.
Curated OER
Comparison of Images Formed by Plane, Cylindrical, and Spherical Mirrors
Students observe how reflections differ in various types of mirrors. In this reflection instructional activity, students use cylindrical mirrors, plane mirrors, and concave mirrors to observe how each reflects the student's face.
Curated OER
Mirror Mirror
Students participate in an experiment to help them explain specular and diffusion reflection.
Curated OER
Applied Science - Physics (5B) Post Lab
Fifth graders analyze optical images. in this optical lesson, 5th graders look at how light reflects and refracts. They discuss different types of lenses and how they change the picture that is taken.
Exploratorium
Pupil
Give pupils a magnifier, a mirror, and a flashlight so that they can examine their own pupils. As they shine a light on their eyes, the light is shone on how this structure dilates and contracts to control how much is allowed into the...
Math by Design
Transformations – Reflections
Scholars use interactive resources to figure out how to mathematically draw a reflection of a geometric shape viewed in a mirror. To conclude the activity, class members are asked to deduce the result of multiple reflections across...
Exploratorium
Polarized Sunglasses
Reflected waves of light move within a plane, and because of this, polarizing materials can reduce the glare our eyes see. This resource explains how to set up a demonstration of this effect. Consider it for use in your physical science...
Curated OER
Applied Science - Physics Lab
Young scholars define reflection and refraction. In this Physics lesson, students compare a variety of items to find properties of reflection or refraction. Young scholars record their findings.
Chandler Unified School District
Art Masterpiece—Leonardo da Vinci Inventions
After getting to know the inventor, Leonardo da Vinci and his many inventions, scholars think up their own invention. Following a written description and a hand-drawn picture, learners use a method of mirror writing and antiquing to give...
Curated OER
Color Kaleidoscopes
Students construct kaleidoscopes to demonstrate how an image is multiplied by angled mirrors before light rays reach their eyes. They follow step-by-step directions to create a kaleidoscope, and draw illustrations of the repeating...
Exploratorium
Corner Reflector
If you set up a triad of mirrors into a corner figuration, they act as a kaleidoscope, bouncing light waves back and forth indefinitely, changing the light that your eyes perceive. Although the materials required are very specific and...
Exploratorium
Whirling Watcher
Pupils put together their own stroboscopes so that they can observe how cyclically moving images appear to merge into a singular object. This, and several other activities published by the same source, illuminate the way the brain...
PHET
Geometric Optics
What would happen if your entire world was flipped upside down? In addition to changing the distance and size of an object, lenses flip the image upside down. The simulation allows scholars to vary the object, move the object, move the...
Curated OER
Minerals of the Earth
Unearth this gem of a resource to use in your geology unit! With colorful images, bullet-point text, and links to related videos, it deals with the characteristics, properties, and identification of minerals. There are also slides...
Curated OER
Typical Conceptual Questions for Physics I - Light and Quantum
This is a stellar overview of everything light and quantum! There are 30 multiple choice questions, none of them requiring any mathematical computation. There are a few diagrams to analyze: light rays striking reflective and refractive...
Curated OER
Spherical Mirrors
Students view images in a spherical mirror and interpret the path of light. In this physics lesson, students view a large spherical mirror demonstrated by the instructor. They use shiny serving spoons to investigate the path of light on...
Curated OER
Ray Diagrams - Mirrors
In this light rays instructional activity, students draw the three rays necessary to determine the location of the image. This instructional activity has 10 problems to solve.
Curated OER
Optics- The Study of Light
In this optics worksheet, learners read about refraction and reflection, lenses and mirrors, and objects and images. They answer 13 matching questions about light rays, light behavior and types of lenses. They also answer 9 questions...
Curated OER
Optics - The Study of Light
For this optics worksheet, students read about how light can reflect or refract and how lenses and mirrors work. Then students complete 13 matching, 27 fill in the blank, and 8 word problems.
Curated OER
Light - Reflection - Illusion
Students experience the magic of mirrors. For this reflection and illusion lesson, students witness magic tricks that work because of mirrors, then rotate through five stations to complete hands-on experiments using mirrors, light,...