Lab
Spherical Mirror Lab
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Purpose:
In this lab we will experimentally determine the focal length of a spherical mirror by measuring the size of a moveable object, the size of its image, and the position of the object. From these values we will calculate d
i
and plot an EXCEL graph of
d
i
vs d
o
. From the graph we will empirically determine the focal length of the mirror.
Equipment:
four meter sticks
one convex mirror
one ring stand
one c-clamp
one burette clamp
one tape measure
one magnifying (convex) lens to assist in reading the image size in the mirror
Procedure:
Cover 50 cm of a meter stick with white paper so that it can easily be seen and measured in the mirror. This will be your object. Do NOT tape the paper to the stick - instead wrap the paper around the stick and tape the paper to itself. This way the meter sticks can easily be returned to their original condition when the lab is over.
Suspend the mirror from a ring stand so that it's front edge, the vertex of the mirror, is aligned with the leading edge of the table. This will enable you to easily measure d
o
by measuring distances along the floor.
Begin by standing approximately 3.0 meters away from the mirror. Measure your actual distance and the size of the meter stick's image in the mirror. Record them in in the following data table. Repeat this procedure for 10 trials, each time decreasing your distance by approximately 30 cm.
Trial
d
o
I
M
d
i
(cm)
(cm)
(cm)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
In your data chart, calculate the magnification of each trial as M = | I / O |.
Next calculate d
i
using the formula d
i
= - M x d
o
Input into
EXCEL
your values for d
o
and d
i
and graph your results. Save your graph as
LastnameLastnameMirror.xls
in your period folder and remember that a printout of your file must be part of your lab report.
Conclusions:
Measure and record the circumference of your ornament.
Calculate the actual focal length of your ornament.
According to your graph's asymptote, what is the experimental focal length of your ornament?
Calculate the percent error in your experiment.
Using three colored pencils, complete the ray diagram for a convex mirror on the axes given below carefully. Construct and label your image. Finally measure its height and record your answer in the blank provided.
What radius convex mirror would be needed to display a 40-cm tall image of an average 5'6" (165 cm) tall person?
List two sources of error in your experiment and explain why you chose them as being the most critical.
1.
2.
After submitting your results online, you are to turn in the following papers to support your work: your data table from Step 3, your EXCEL printout, your ray diagram, and your calculations for the 40-cm tall image. Remember to also return your equipment so that the next periods can set up their experiments.
Related Documents
Lab:
Labs -
A Simple Microscope
Labs -
Blank Ray Diagrams for Converging Lenses
Labs -
Blank Ray Diagrams for Converging, Concave, Mirrors
Labs -
Blank Ray Diagrams for Diverging Lenses
Labs -
Blank Ray Diagrams for Diverging, Convex, Mirrors
Labs -
Determining the Focal Length of a Converging Lens
Labs -
Index of Refraction: Glass
Labs -
Index of Refraction: Water
Labs -
Least Time Activity
Labs -
Man and the Mirror
Labs -
Man and the Mirror: Sample Ray Diagram
Labs -
Ray Diagrams for Converging Lenses
Labs -
Ray Diagrams for Converging Mirrors
Labs -
Ray Diagrams for Diverging Lenses
Labs -
Ray Diagrams for Diverging Mirrors
Labs -
Reflections of a Triangle
Labs -
Student Lens Lab
Labs -
Target Practice - Revised
Resource Lesson:
RL -
A Derivation of Snell's Law
RL -
Converging Lens Examples
RL -
Converging Lenses
RL -
Demonstration: Infinite Images
RL -
Demonstration: Real Images
RL -
Demonstration: Virtual Images
RL -
Dispersion
RL -
Diverging Lenses
RL -
Double Lens Systems
RL -
Lensmaker Equation
RL -
Mirror Equation
RL -
Properties of Plane Mirrors
RL -
Refraction of Light
RL -
Refraction Phenomena
RL -
Snell's Law
RL -
Snell's Law: Derivation
RL -
Spherical Mirrors
RL -
Thin Lens Equation
Review:
REV -
Drill: Reflection and Mirrors
REV -
Mirror Properties
REV -
Physics I Honors: 2nd 9-week notebook
REV -
Physics I: 2nd 9-week notebook
REV -
Spherical Lens Properties
Worksheet:
APP -
Enlightened
APP -
Reflections
APP -
The Librarian
APP -
The Starlet
CP -
Lenses
CP -
Plane Mirror Reflections
CP -
Refraction of Light
CP -
Snell's Law
CP -
Snell's Law
NT -
Image Distances
NT -
Laser Fishing
NT -
Mirror Height
NT -
Mirror Length
NT -
Reflection
NT -
Underwater Vision
WS -
An Extension of Snell's Law
WS -
Basic Principles of Refraction
WS -
Converging Lens Vocabulary
WS -
Diverging Lens Vocabulary
WS -
Lensmaker Equation
WS -
Plane Mirror Reflections
WS -
Refraction and Critical Angles
WS -
Refraction Phenomena
WS -
Refraction Through a Circular Disk
WS -
Refraction Through a Glass Plate
WS -
Refraction Through a Triangle
WS -
Snell's Law Calculations
WS -
Spherical Mirror Equation #1
WS -
Spherical Mirror Equation #2
WS -
Spherical Mirrors: Image Patterns
WS -
Thin Lens Equation #1: Converging Lenses
WS -
Thin Lens Equation #2: Converging Lenses
WS -
Thin Lens Equation #3: Both Types
WS -
Thin Lens Equation #4: Both Types
WS -
Two-Lens Worksheet
WS -
Two-Mirror Worksheet
TB -
27B: Properties of Light and Refraction
TB -
Refraction Phenomena Reading Questions
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