The Physics Classroom » Lesson Plans » Algebra Based On-Level Physics » Reflection and Mirrors

Reflection and Mirrors

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Teacher Guides for labs can be found here.

NOTE: All CalcPad problem sets are customized problem sets created specifically for this course. The links direct users to the Guest version. Task Tracker users should use the link on the Task Tracker page to the trackable CalcPad version.  

Day 1 of Reflection and Mirrors

Lesson Plan
  1. Introduction to unit
  2. Lab 1 Reflection Lab
    Do and post-lab
  3. Discuss Law of reflection and terminology (normal, incident/reflected rays, angles of incidence/reflection)
  4. Pair Practice: Light Reflection Think Sheet
  5. Concept Builder: Law of Reflection (Apprentice Level only)
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Reflection and the Ray Model of Light: Lesson 1, Parts a - c
  2. Minds On Physics: Mission RM1 on Law of Reflection



 

Day 2 of Reflection and Mirrors

Lesson Plan
  1. Lab 2 - Plane Mirror Image Lab
    Do and post-lab; discuss what an image is and how an image is formed; animation
  2. Individual/Guided: Image Formation and Characteristics Think Sheet
  3. Draw your first ray diagram to show how light travels from object to mirror to eye as you sight at an image.
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Reflection and the Ray Model of Light: Lesson 2, Parts a-c
  2. Minds On Physics: Mission RM2 on Plane Mirror Images


 

Day 3 of Reflection and Mirrors

Lesson Plan
  1. Individual/Guided: Ray Diagrams Think Sheet #1-12
  2. Lab 3 - What Portion ... ?
    Do and post-lab; collect and compare class data; draw conclusion
  3. Physics Interactives: Plane Mirror Images
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Reflection and the Ray Model of Light: Lesson 2, Part d
  2. Finish Physics Interactives: Plane Mirror Images



 

Day 4 of Reflection and Mirrors

Lesson Plan
  1. Review Lab 3; complete Ray Diagrams Think Sheet #13-17
  2. Physics Interactives: Who Can See Who? with Concept Checker
    Do and process; then complete Concept Checker
  3. If time allows, start Concept Builder: Who Can See Who?
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Reflection and the Ray Model of Light: Lesson 2, Part d
  2. Concept Builder: Who Can See Who?




 

Day 5 of Reflection and Mirrors

Lesson Plan
  1. Discuss diffuse vs. specular reflection; demonstrations; use Specular vs. Diffuse Reflection Think Sheet
  2. Start Curved Mirrors
    Discuss concave vs. convex, terminology (principal axis, focal point, center of curvature, f, and R); rules of reflection; Spherical Mirrors Think Sheet #1-5
  3. Lab 4: Exploring Curved Mirrors
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Reflection and the Ray Model of Light: Lesson 3, Parts a - c
  2. Minds On Physics: Mission RM4 on Regular vs. Diffuse Reflection




 

Day 6 of Reflection and Mirrors

Lesson Plan
  1. Review and complete Spherical Mirrors Think Sheet
  2. Physics Interactives: Concave Mirror Image Formation (as a demonstration)
  3. Lab 5: Finding Smiley
    Do and post-lab
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Reflection and the Ray Model of Light: Lesson 3, Parts d-e




 

Day 7 of Reflection and Mirrors

Lesson Plan
  1. Physics Interactives: Optics Bench - Mirrors with Student Activity Sheet
    Do and process
  2. Ray Diagrams for Concave Mirrors Think Sheet
  3. Concept Checker: Optics Bench - Mirrors
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Reflection and the Ray Model of Light: Lesson 3, Parts d-e
  2. Minds On Physics: Mission RM6 on Concave Mirror Images




 

Day 8 of Reflection and Mirrors

Lesson Plan
  1. Discuss Convex Mirrors - image formation (demonstration); rules of reflection; nature of images
  2. Guided/Individual: Ray Diagrams for Convex Mirrors Think Sheet
  3. Concept Builder: The Lost Art of Image Description (Curved Mirrors)
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Reflection and the Ray Model of Light: Lesson 4, Parts a-c
  2. Minds On Physics: Mission RM9 on Convex Mirror Images




 

Day 9 of Reflection and Mirrors

Lesson Plan
  1. Discuss mirror equation and magnification ratio; sign conventions; use in problem-solving
  2. Object-Image Relations Think Sheet Q#1
  3. Physics Interactives: Name That Image
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Reflection and the Ray Model of Light: Lesson 3, Part f
  2. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Reflection and the Ray Model of Light: Lesson 4, Part d
  3. CalcPad - Reflection & Mirrors 1: Mirror Equation



 

Day 10 of Reflection and Mirrors

Lesson Plan
  1. Pair Practice: Object-Image Relations Think Sheet Q#2-3
  2. Mathematics of Curved Mirrors Think Sheet (selected Qs)
  3. Science Reasoning Center: Concave Mirrors
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. CalcPad - Reflection & Mirrors 2: Mirror Equation



 

Day 11 of Reflection and Mirrors

Lesson Plan
Review day: this is a chance for students to process ideas, work independently or together, and prepare for exam. Suggested online review activities include:
 
  1. Minds On Physics: Mission RM3 on Plane Mirror Ray Tracing
  2. Minds On Physics: Mission RM11 on Virtual and Real Images
  3. CalcPad - Reflection & Mirrors 3: Review
  4. The Review Session - Reflection and Mirrors​

NOTE: The above assignments are intended as optional review assignments and not required assignments.

​Homework/Announcements
  1. Prepare for Tomorrow's Test
  2. Complete all unfinished work