Lesson Plan: Convex Mirrors Science

This lesson plan includes the objectives, prerequisites, and exclusions of the lesson teaching students how to describe the reflection of light rays from a convex mirror.


Students will be able to

  • identify the center of curvature of a spherical mirror in a diagram,
  • recognize that, for a convex mirror, the center of curvature of a spherical mirror is on the opposite side to the observer,
  • understand that the radius of curvature of a spherical mirror is just the radius of the sphere,
  • recognize that a spherical mirror has a focal point,
  • recognize that a convex spherical mirror will not focus rays at a point,
  • understand that the focal length of a spherical mirror is the distance between the center of the surface of the mirror and the focal point,
  • use the relationship that focal length = 12 the radius of curvature.


Students should already be familiar with

  • the terms object and image,
  • the law of reflection.


Students will not cover

  • image formation by convex mirrors.
