The basic layout for the laboratory includes a mirror, four bolts, and a protractor
Hypothesis: There exists a mathematical relationship between the angle of incidence θ (theta) and the angle of reflection φ (phi) for a mirror.
Procedure: Use the bolts to determine the angle of reflection for different angles of incidence. You decide how many different angles of incidence to measure.
The basic layout for the laboratory includes a mirror, four bolts, and a protractor
The diagram indicates a single angle of incidence θ and the angle of reflection φ.
The bolts are intended to help you determine the angle of incidence θ and the angle of reflection φ. The lined-up bolts mimic a beam of a light aimed at the center of the mirror. When all four bolts line up perfectly as seen in the mirror, then the angle of reflection φ is the angle at which an incident light beam would be reflected.
Bolts lined up, four in a row, for a single pair of angles of incidence θ and reflection φ.
As you vary the angle of incidence θ, keep the incident bolts "aimed" at the center of the mirror.
The two "incidence" bolts should line up with the images of "reflection" bolts in the mirror
Student with properly aligned bolts
Repeat the experiment with other angles of incidence for the bolts. Use as many different angles of incidence as you think are appropriate. Use the protractor to measure the angle - for one of the angles use the inner markings 0° - 90°, for the other measure use the outer markings 0° - 90°.
You decide what you need to put in the laboratory. You decide how to report and present your data. Based on your work this term you should be able to make appropriate decisions on what sections to include in your laboratory. You decide how to determine if there is a mathematical relationship. If you find a mathematical relationship, you use the most appropriate method for calculating and reporting that relationship.