Law of Reflection: Plane and Concave Mirrors

Theory

In reflection, the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection: ${\theta }_i={\theta }_r$. A spherical concave mirror concentrates parallel rays at the focal point, $f=R/2$ from the vertex.

What to observe

• Parallel rays converge at point F.
• In the plane mirror, the ray comes back symmetric to the normal.

Try this

• Rotate the laser (round handle) and check the angles with the ruler.
• Change the concave mirror into a convex one.

Also available in: Lei da reflexão: espelhos plano e côncavo (Português) · Ley de la reflexión: espejos plano y cóncavo (Español)