CUrved Mirrors Lab
Purpose: To observe the focus and focal length of a concave mirror
You will be using a concave mirror and a candle to collect data and find the focal length of your mirror.
You will be using a concave mirror and a candle to collect data and find the focal length of your mirror.
Procedure:
- Set up the mirror on one end of the meter stick.
- Use a candle as a light source, which will be called "the object." Carefully place your mirror so it is at the same height as the light source. Place the light about a meter away from the mirror. Put it slightly off the center line, as show, so that an index card will not block the light from hitting the mirror.
- Try to find the image of the object on an index card. Hold the card on the opposite side of the center line than the light. Move the card back and forth until the image is sharp. The image you found is a real image because you can project it on a card.
- Record the distance of the source from the mirror and of the image on the card from the mirror. Create a data table like the one below to organize your results.
- Carefully move the mirror closer to the object. Find the sharp image, as before, by moving the index card back and forth.
- Record the image and object distances in your table.
- Repeat the measurement for 5 object locations.
Analysis: Complete in lab book.
- Draw a graph of the image distance (y-axis) vs. the object distance (x-axis).
- How can you describe the relationship between image distance and object distance?
- A mathematical relationship that describes concave mirrors is:
4. Are your sums from number 3 almost equal? What does this tell you about the focal length of your mirror?
5. Solve for f in the above equation using three pairs of your data. What is the focal length of your mirror?
5. Solve for f in the above equation using three pairs of your data. What is the focal length of your mirror?
Conclusion:
Write a paragraph conclusion about this lab.
Write a paragraph conclusion about this lab.