Converging and Diverging Mirrors
Name: __________________________________________ Date:___________
Year & Section: ________________________ Rating: _________
Activity no.
CONVERGING MIRRORS
I. Introduction
Concave mirrors are used in different optical instruments, such as microscope (illuminates the slide or specimen), astronomical telescope (especially in reflecting telescopes) and slide projector (increases the light falling onto the slide). Determine where the images fall and what kind of images are formed by a concave mirror.
II. Objectives
1. Determine the focal length of a concave mirror.
2. Describe the images formed by a concave mirror.
III. Materials
Concave mirrors
Two meter sticks
Candle
White board (screen)
IV. Procedures
A. Determine the Focal Length
1. Position your mirror. Mount it in a holder on a table placed near the window. See figure below.
2. Move the screen until a clear image of a distant object formed by the mirror appears on it. When a sharp and clear image appears on the screen, measure its distance from the mirror. This is the focal length of the mirror.
B. Locating the Image
1. Mount your lighted candle on a small bottle or canister. Place it in front of the mirror at a distance more than twice the focal length of the mirror.
2. Move the screen back and forth to locate the sharpest image of the candle flame. Using a meter stick, measure the distance between the screen and the mirror. This is the image distance. Describe the image. Record your observation on the table.
3. Repeat step 2 by moving your candle closer to the mirror at the position twice the focal length (equal to the center of curvature) or C, between C and focal length, at focal length and between the focal length and mirror. Fill up the table.
V. Observation
Focal length of the mirror: ________ cm
Object Distance d° (cm)
Image Distance d (cm)
Nature of Image
Size of Image
Kind of Image
Position of Image
Year & Section: ________________________ Rating: _________
Activity no.
CONVERGING MIRRORS
I. Introduction
Concave mirrors are used in different optical instruments, such as microscope (illuminates the slide or specimen), astronomical telescope (especially in reflecting telescopes) and slide projector (increases the light falling onto the slide). Determine where the images fall and what kind of images are formed by a concave mirror.
II. Objectives
1. Determine the focal length of a concave mirror.
2. Describe the images formed by a concave mirror.
III. Materials
Concave mirrors
Two meter sticks
Candle
White board (screen)
IV. Procedures
A. Determine the Focal Length
1. Position your mirror. Mount it in a holder on a table placed near the window. See figure below.
2. Move the screen until a clear image of a distant object formed by the mirror appears on it. When a sharp and clear image appears on the screen, measure its distance from the mirror. This is the focal length of the mirror.
B. Locating the Image
1. Mount your lighted candle on a small bottle or canister. Place it in front of the mirror at a distance more than twice the focal length of the mirror.
2. Move the screen back and forth to locate the sharpest image of the candle flame. Using a meter stick, measure the distance between the screen and the mirror. This is the image distance. Describe the image. Record your observation on the table.
3. Repeat step 2 by moving your candle closer to the mirror at the position twice the focal length (equal to the center of curvature) or C, between C and focal length, at focal length and between the focal length and mirror. Fill up the table.
V. Observation
Focal length of the mirror: ________ cm
Object Distance d° (cm)
Image Distance d (cm)
Nature of Image
Size of Image
Kind of Image
Position of Image