Science 8 – Unit 2: Light and Optics
Concept 3 – Explain how light is reflected and refracted.
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Inquiry Investigation: Reflecting Light off a Plane Mirror
To prepare: Read pages 312-315 in your textbook, and analyze the following diagram:
Define the following Vocabulary:
Vocabulary
Plane Mirror
Normal
Incident Ray
Angle of Incidence
Point of incidence
Angle of Reflection
Reflected Ray
Definition
Investigation Question: How does the angle of incidence compare with the angle of reflection for a mirror?
Prediction: What do you think will be the relationship between the angle of incidence and the angle of refection? Do
you think they will be the same? Do you think they will be different? If you think they will be different, how do you
think they will be different?
Write your prediction here:
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Investigation: You will trace the path of a ray from a ray box the ray reflects off a plane (flat) mirror.
See pg. 314-315 for materials and procedure.
Results:
Trial
1
Angle of Incidence
Angle of Reflection
2
3
4
Analysis and Conclusions:
1. Did your results support your prediction? How do you know?
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2. Were there any sources of error in your investigation? What were they?
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3. What is the relationship between the angle of incidence and the angle of reflection?
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