Name: ______________________
REFLECTION AND PLANE MIRRORS
VOCABULARY:
plane mirror –
normal –
incident ray –
reflected ray -
angle of incidence –
angle of reflection –
attitude of the image –
size or magnification of image –
real image –
virtual image –
type of image -
In the diagram below, label the following: plane mirror, normal, incident ray, reflected ray,
angle of incidence, angle of reflection. (6 labels x 0.5 mark each = 3 marks)
When examining how light reflects from a plane (flat) mirror, there are four image
characteristics to be considered:
1. location – where the image is in relation to the mirror
2. magnification or size – if the image is bigger or smaller than the object
3. type – if the image is real (in front of the mirror) or virtual (behind the mirror)
4. attitude – if the image is upright or inverted (flipped upside down) - if the right and left
sides are flipped (lateral inversion)
In this activity, you will investigate the characteristics of an image that is formed in a plane
mirror. The answers will be plane to see! 
Materials:
 small plane mirror
 flat surface
 15 cm ruler
Procedure:
1. In the diagram below, ‘X’ will be your object. Hold your mirror so that its edge rests on the
mirror line that is shown below. The shiny side should be facing the object (the X).
X
object
mirror line
2. Turn your head slightly so that you are looking into the mirror from the side with the object
on it. You should still be able to see behind the mirror with your other eye.
3. Move your head slowly back and forth until you see an image of the X behind the mirror.
Draw the image of the X in on the paper where you see it.
Questions:
1. Location of the image:
a. Measure the distance between the centre of the object (the centre of the X) and the
mirror in cm. _______
b. Measure the distance between the centre of image (the centre of the X that you drew)
and the mirror in cm. ______
c. How does the location of the object compare to the location of the image?
____________________________
2. Magnification or Size:
a. Measure the height of the object in mm. ____
b. Measure the height of the image in mm. ____
c. How does the size of the object compare to the size of the image?
__________________________________________________
3. Type: Is the image real or virtual? (HINT: Review the definitions of these words!)
_____________________
4. Attitude: Look into your mirror.
a. Is the image in a plane mirror upright or inverted? ______________
b. Is the image laterally inverted? (HINT: Review your given definitions!) _______
How can you tell? ___________________________________________