Name: _____________________________________ Period: _________ Date: _______________
Images formed by Mirrors and Lenses
 Focus Question: What types of images are formed by different types of mirrors and lenses?
Activity 1 – Reflection: Images with Mirrors
Materials:

Mirrors – one of each
o Concave
o Convex
o Plane (flat)
Objective: observe the different types of mirrors and the ways they reflect images
Lab Directions: Follow all of the lab steps and copy down all your observations in the data table
labeled “Reflection: Images with Mirrors”.
Lab Steps
1. Use the plane (flat) mirror to look at yourself.
a. You will first look at your image in the mirror when holding it at arms length (about 2 feet away
from your face).
b. Then, after recording your observations, bring the mirror closer to your eyes (about 6 inches
away from your eyes). Keep looking into the mirror as you move it closer to see if the image
changes as you move it.
2. Record your observations about the image that is in the mirror in the data table.
a. You should use the following bold words to describe the images made by the mirrors:
i. Image size -bigger, same size, or smaller
ii. Image direction (vertical) - upside down or upright
iii. Image focus - clear or blurry
iv. Image direction (horizontal) – same or reversed
1. Blink your right eye – if the person in the mirror blinks their right eye it’s same.
If they blink their left eye it’s reversed.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 using a concave mirror and a convex mirror. Record your observations for
both mirrors in the data table.
Reflection: Images with Mirrors
Position of
Mirror
Plane Mirror
Concave Mirror
Convex Mirror
Image at arms
length
(2 feet away)
Image up-close
(6 inches away)
1. Where could you find the different types of mirrors that you used?
a. Plane Mirror –
b. Concave Mirror –
c. Convex Mirror –
2. Which mirror would be the best for the following situations? Use Plane, Concave, or Convex
a. The rearview mirror in a car
____________________
b. A mirror to put makeup on with
____________________
c. A mirror to see a crowd of people behind you
____________________
d. A mirror that can focus light to a point
____________________
e. A mirror that spreads out light
____________________
f. A mirror that shows the law of reflection
____________________
Name: _____________________________________ Period: _________ Date: _______________
Images formed by Mirrors and Lenses
 Focus Question: What types of images are formed by different types of mirrors and lenses?
Activity 2 – Refraction: Images with Lenses
Materials:

Lenses – one of each
o Concave
o Convex
Objective: observe the different types of lenses and the ways they refract images
Lab Directions: Follow all of the lab steps and copy down all your observations in the data table
labeled “Refraction: Images with Lenses”.
The angle of reflection is equal to the angle of incidence
Lab Steps
1. Observe the above sentence through the concave lens.
a. Start by holding the lens close to the page (within one inch of touching the page).
Observe the way the words look. Record your observation in the data table.
b. After recording the data, slowly move the lens farther away from the page (up to one
foot away). Record what happens to the image as you move the lens away from the
paper.
2. Record your observations about the image in the data table.
a. You should use the following bold words to describe the images made by the lenses:
i. Image size -bigger, same size, or smaller
ii. Image direction (vertical) - upside down or upright
iii. Image direction (horizontal) – same or reversed
1. If the words are backwards the image is reversed. If the words are
regular the image is the same.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 using a convex lens. Record your observations for the lens in the data
table.
Reflection: Images with Mirrors
Position of lens
Concave lens
Convex lens
Image with lens close
to page
(within 1 inch of page)
Image with lens far
away from page
(up to 1 foot away)
1. Where could you find the different types of lenses that you used?
a. Concave lens –
b. Convex lens –
2. Which lens would be the best for the following situations? Use Concave, or Convex
a. A lens for a magnifying glass
____________________
b. A lens for a microscope
____________________
c. A lens for a telescope
____________________
d. A lens to focus light to a point
____________________
e. A lens that spreads out light
____________________
f. A lens used in glasses to help see far away objects
____________________
g. A lens used in glasses to help read a book
____________________