Experiment 10: Reflection of Light

Laboratory Report
Jermayn Regalario, Kim Rojales, Julie Ann Santos, Helen Grace Steiro
Department of Biology
College of Science, University of Santo Tomas
Espaa, Manila Philippines
Abstract
In this experiment, using a flat
mirror and a light source we verified the
law of reflection, that is, the angle of
incidence is always equal to the angle of
reflection. We also verified that the focal
length is always half of the radius of a
spherical mirror. Lastly, we characterized
the image formed by convex, concave and
plane mirrors. The results are that the image
reflected by these mirrors is the same as the
image seen on the same type of lens.
1.

Introduction

The reflection of light, together with

any form of electromagnetic radiation,
happens when light waves encounter a
surface that does not absorb the energy of
the radiation, but instead, bounces the waves
away from the surface. Light always follows
the law of reflection, whether the reflection
occurs on a flat or curved surface. The law
of reflection states that when a ray of light is
reflected on a mirror, the angle of the ray
towards the mirror has the same angle as the
ray that is away from the mirror.
A spherical mirror was used in this
experiment. This special type of mirror has
two different sides, the first one is concave
(the inner part) and the other one is convex 9

the outer part). To find the focal length of

this kind of mirror, we dont need to reflect
an object with distance near infinity, instead
we can look for the radius and divide it by
two. This equation
2.
Theory
Equation 1. Law of Reflection
Angle of incidence = Angle of reflection
Wherein the angle of incidence is always
equal to the law of reflection.
Equation 2. Focal length
1/f = 1/do + 1/di
Wherein f is the focal length, do is the
distance of the lens to the object and di is the
distance of the lens to the image.
Equation 3. Radius and focal length
relationship
2F=r
Where r is the radius and F is the focal
length.
3.

Methodology

The first activity focuses on the law

of reflection, and made use of a light source
like a laser beam, a plane mirror, pen, paper
and a protractor. The outline of the mirror
was traced and a normal line was drawn
perpendicular to it. The beam of light was
pointed at the plane mirror and the incidence

and reflected rays were traced and the angle

of incidence was measured.

Figure 1. Reflection of plane mirror.

Retrieved from
http://www.daviddarling.info/images/
plane_mirror_reflection.gif

The second activity focuses on the

reflection at spherical surfaces. We placed
the light source with two parallel rays in
front of a concave reflecting surface. The
rays are extended until they intersect, and
the distance from the point of intersection to
the center of the reflecting surface is
measured. The curvature was traced to
complete a circle and the radius is measured.

Figure 2. Reflection of spherical

surface.
Retrieved
from
http://images.tutorvista.com/content/
light-reflection/concave-and-convexmirror.gif

The third activity is about the image

formation by a concave mirror. The focal
length of the concave mirror was determined
by getting the distance of an image very far
from the mirror. Using a white board as a
screen, a meter stick, and a light bulb with a
figure etched on it, the sharpest image of the

object is obtained. The characterizations are

according to the given image distances a)
more than twice the focal length, b) exactly
twice the focal length, c) between one focal
length and twice the focal length, d) exactly
one focal length, and e) less than one focal
length.
The fourth activity is about the
image formation by a convex mirror. Like
the third activity, the focal length of the
convex mirror was determined. Using a
white board as a screen, a meter stick, and a
light bulb with an etched figure, the sharpest
image of the object is obtained. If there was
no image, the mirror was to be viewed.
4.
Results and Discussion
Table 1. Law of Reflection
Trial 1
Trial 2
Angle of
32
23
Incidence
Angle of
32
23
Reflection
%
0
0
Difference

Trial 3
41
41
0

Table 1 demonstrates the Law of

Reflection where in the angle of incidence
should be equal to the angle of reflection.
Three trials had been done all of which
showed equal angle of incidence and angle
of reflection. Thus, for the three trials, the %
difference would be 0.
Table 2. Reflection of Spherical Surfaces
Focal
Radius
Focal
length
(cm) length/radius
(cm)
Concave
Reflecting
2.7
5.4
0.5
Surface
2

Convex
Reflecting
Surface

2.8

5.6

0.5

In table 2, it shows the relationship

of the radius and the focal length of a
spherical mirror. With the two different sides
of the spherical mirror, one concave and one
convex, same relationship was found. The
radius is equal to the twice of the focal
length and vice versa.
Table 3. Image Formation by a Concave
Mirror
Type of Image
Object Distance
Formed
More than twice
Smaller, inverted,
focal length
real
Exactly twice focal
Same size, inverted
length
real
Between one focal
length and twice
Larger, inverted, real
focal length
Exactly one focal
No image
length
Less than one focal
Larger, inverted,
length
virtual
Table 3 shows the image formation
by a concave mirror at different distances.
If the mirror is placed more than
twice the focal length, the reflected image
would be smaller in size, inverted or upright
and is real, that is, the actual replica of the
object would appear on the reflection.
If the mirror is placed at exactly
twice the focal point, the size of the
reflection would be of same size, and an
inverted and real image would be produced.

If the mirror is located between one

focal length and twice the focal length, the
reflection would be larger, inverted and real.
There would be no image produced
if the mirror is located at exactly one focal
length because the light rays would be
travelling parallel to each other. The
reflected image would neither diverge nor
converge.
Finally, if the mirror is located at less
than one focal point the image produced
would be larger, inverted and virtual.
Table 4. Image Formation by a Convex
Mirror
Type of Image
Object Distance
Formed
More than focal
Smaller, upright,
length
virtual
Less than focal
Smaller, upright,
length
virtual
Table 4 discusses the images formed
by a convex mirror. If the mirror is located
at more than the focal length, the image
formed would be smaller, upright and
virtual. If the mirror is located at less than
one focal length, the reflected image would
also be smaller, upright and virtual.
5.

Conclusion

The law of reflection, being that the

angle of reflection is equal to the angle of
incidence, was proven accurate in our
experiment. This is applicable to both plane
mirrors and spherical mirrors. As long as the
reflection is regular and there are no defects
in the mirrors, the angles will always be
equal. Also, it is found that the focal length
in a concave surface is found to be of the
3

radius. And for convex surfaces it is

negative of the radius. For concave
mirrors, the image formed will be inverted
and real when the object is placed at more
than the focal length, no image will be
formed at the focal length and a virtual
image at less than the focal length. For
convex mirrors, the image will always be
smaller, upright and virtual.
6.
References
[1] Avison, J. (1989). The world of physics
(2nd ed.). Cheltenham, UK: Thomas Nelson
& Sons.