Energy and Change Light Electricity Energy
Introduction
Questions to
think about
How we see
Reflection
Reflection
Bending mirrors
Images
Plotting rays
Ray paths
Calculations
Summary
Refraction
Colour
Conclusion
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Activity 1: Bending mirrors* Overall management

Several of the optical devices studied at the start of this topic used curved mirrors. Curved mirrors are used as make-up mirrors, security mirrors and in astronomical telescopes.
How does changing the shape of a mirror affect the shape and position of an image?
What to use Hints
Sheet of mirrored mylar (or mirrored Perspex).
What to do
  1. Hold a sheet of mylar mirror or Perspex mirror and look at the image of your face in the mirror.
  2. Gently bend the sheet back so that it bulges out towards you or in away from you in different ways.
  3. Observe:
    1. the shape of the image of your face (ie does your face look thinner or fatter, longer or shorter?)
    2. the position of the image of your face (ie does your face seem closer or further away?)

  1. Record the results for each mirror shape you try.

Discussion
  1. Summarise in sentences or a table the shape of your face and the apparent position of the image you see for a 'curved in' and a 'curved out' mirror.
  2. What happens when the mirrors are made more curved?

Concave
The curve of a concave mirror
When the edges of a mirror are curved towards you, it is said to have a concave shape.
Convex
The curve of a convex mirror
When the edges of a mirror are curved away from you, it is said to have a convex shape.

Using cylindrical mirrors
Some artists produce work that can be viewed only by using cylindrical mirrors. These are called anamorphic drawings.

Roll your sheet of mylar mirror into a cylinder and hold it together with a small rubber band or sticky tape.

Stand the cylindrical mirror on the centre of the anamorphic drawing you have printed and observe the image in the mirror.
Challenge
Make an anamorphic drawing of a house or another object of your choice.


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