Characteristics of Concave Mirror Images

The Concave Mirror Image Characteristics Video Tutorial utilizes the LOST Art of Image Description to describe the characterstics of the images formed by concave mirrors. The effect of object location upon these characteristics is emphasized.

The video lesson answers the following questions:

1. How do you describe the images of objects that are produced by a concave mirror?
2. How does the description vary with object location?

Video

You can watch the video below, or click here to watch on YouTube (opens in a new tab).

To improve the effectiveness of the learning experience, The Physics Classroom has provided the following tools:

Additional and Related Learning Tools

Physics Interactives: Optics Bench - Mirrors
The Physics Interactives is our simulation section. This section provides a playful way to learn. Alter a variable, experiment with a system, and interact with the simulation in order to find out how nature works. Our Optics Bench simulation allows students to explore the reflection of light by curved mirrors and the formation of images. The object location and height and the mirror focal length can be easily altered.

Physics Interactives: Name That Image
This Interactive from our simulation section presents an object location and you must identify the image that has the corresponding orientation, location, and size. It's an awesome way to practice what you have learned in the video.

Concept Builders: Lost Art of Image Description
Students love Concept Builders. They provide awesome practice to strengthen understanding of a concept. The Help Me page provides background help specific to the question. If you want to build a concept in your mind, think through a Concept Builder.

Minds On Physics, Reflection and Mirrors module, Mission RM6
Our Minds On Physics program provides an intense workout in careful reading, logical thinking, and conceptual reasoning. It's like eating broccoli - nobody likes it but you know it's good for you. Give Mission RM6 on Object-Image Relations a try. It's great nutrition for your Physics brain. Use the Help link for question-specific help.

Tutorial: Reflection and the Ray Model of Light, Lesson 3
When you need to quickly review a topic and/or freshen up on a concept, the Tutorial section of our website is your go-to place. The page titled Image Characteristics for Concave Mirrors makes a good complement of this video.
Image Characteristics for Concave Mirrors

Teacher Resources

Curriculum Corner, Reflection and Mirrors
Our Curriculum Corner includes in excess of 200 Think Sheets on discrete topics. Each Think Sheet takes a developmental approach to a topic. The following two Think Sheets provide exceptional support for this video. Combine them with a simulation and either a Concept Builder or a Minds On Physics mission and you have a super lesson.
Ray Diagrams for Concave Mirrors
Object-Image Relations

Physics Interactives: Optics Bench - Mirrors
The Physics Interactives is our simulation section. This section provides a playful way to learn. Alter a variable, experiment with a system, and interact with the simulation in order to find out how nature works. Our Optics Bench simulation allows students to explore the reflection of light by curved mirrors and the formation of images. The classroom-ready exercise that accompanies the simulation emphasizes the LOST Art of Image Description.

Physics Interactives: Name That Image
This Interactive from our simulation section presents an object location and students must identify the image that has the corresponding orientation, location, and size. It's an awesome way to practice what has been learned in the video.

Concept Builders: Lost Art of Image Description
Students love Concept Builders. They provide awesome practice to strengthen understanding of a concept. The Help Me page provides background help specific to the question. When combined with our Task Tracker system, Concept Builders make for great out-of-class assignments.

Minds On Physics, Reflection and Mirrors module, Mission RM6
Our Minds On Physics program provides an intense workout in careful reading, logical thinking, and conceptual reasoning. It's like eating broccoli - nobody likes it but you know it's good for you. Consider Mission RM6 on Object-Image Relations as a follow-up exercise to this video.

Science Reasoning Center: Concave Mirrors
This passage from our Science Reasoning Center setion describes a collection of experiments in which students investigate the characteristics of images formed by a concave mirror. Information is presented in the form of two diagrams and a data table. Students must answer questions that target their ability to reason scientifically. We think this actually makes a good introduction to the video. Of course, teachers know what works best with their own classes.

Tutorial on Reflection and the Ray Model of Light, Lesson 3
When you need to quickly review a topic and/or freshen up on a concept, The Tutorial section of our website is your go-to place. Many teachers include these as links for students on their course management sites. The page titled Image Characteristics for Concave Mirrors makes a good complement of this video.
Image Characteristics for Concave Mirrors

Teacher Toolkits: Image Formation by Curved Mirrors
We love our Teacher Toolkits. We hope you do as well. They include a collection of links to vetted resources throughout the web that are standards-based and multi-media driven.

Lesson Notes

Download (opens in a new tab) or view below

Slides

Do you like the slides we used? They are available in our low cost Teacher Presentation Pack, along with other updated materials used in our presentation.