What's around the corner?
How to look around corners using a mirror. Investigating angles of reflection.
Be careful not to drop the mirror.
PLAN
Set up a "corner" - or use a real corner.
Hide an object around the corner.
Experiment with a mirror until you can see the object.
I WILL NEED
A corner.
A mirror.
Objects to hide round the corner.
I MAY NEED
A protractor to measure angles.
FAIR TEST
You could repeat the investigation using different people as observers - to see if you get the same results.
PREDICTION
Can you predict where you need to place the mirror so that you can see round the corner?
At what sort of angle?
PRACTICAL ACTIVITY
What did you do?
What did you notice about the position of the mirror.
Does it make any difference if the hidden objects are "just around the corner" or "a long way round the corner"?
COLLECT
DATA
You could draw a diagram to show the position of the mirror.
Are there any measurements you need to take?
(You could measure the angle of the mirror.)
(You could measure how far away the objects are.)
ANALYSE
DATA
It might be easier to understand what you have found out if you draw a diagram.
PRESENT
FINDINGS
What is the best way to show what you did?
Would a diagram make things clearer?
Could you take some photographs?
What is the best way to explain what you discovered?
EVALUATE
INVESTIGATION
If someone else was going to carry out this investigation, what tips or advice would you give them?
If you have carried out this investigation, click the icon to send in your results to Brainboxx and we may publish your work on the website. It is best to e-mail the results of your investigation or you may need to send them by post. Make sure you get permission from a teacher, parent or other adult before you get in touch.
