Interactive Labs › Physics labs
PPhysicsS2 to S4Light · Energy
Curved mirrors lab: images and a solar cooker
A shiny curved dish can cook food with sunshine. Learn how curved mirrors form images and design a solar cooker.
LevelS2 to S4 (and IGCSE)
TimeAbout 35 min
You useRay diagrams, 1/f = 1/u + 1/v
PriceFree: no account
🎯 Aim
To investigate images formed by curved mirrors and to calculate the power collected by a solar cooker.
You will learn to
- Draw ray diagrams for curved mirrors.
- Use the mirror formula and magnification.
- Describe real and virtual images.
- Calculate the power of a solar concentrator.
🧭 What to do
- Choose Concave and move the object from far away towards F.
- Read the image distance, size and nature.
- Put the object at F: what happens?
- Choose Convex; then set the cooker diameter and read the power.
- Answer the questions with the class data.
- Write your conclusion and download your lab report.
📋 The data
A concave mirror and a solar cooker.
🧠 Investigate: answer from the data
Type your answer and tap Check. Use 💡 Hint first; open the method only when you are stuck.
📄 My lab report
Your report collects the aim, your data table, the graphs, your answers and your conclusion. It is made on your phone or computer: nothing is sent to anyone.
Check your conclusion
A concave mirror forms real, inverted images when the object is beyond F, and a virtual, upright, magnified image when it is closer than F (a make-up mirror). Parallel rays from the sun meet at the focus, where a solar cooker puts the pot. A convex mirror always gives a small, upright image with a wide view, used on roads and in shops.
➕ Get more from this experiment
📝 Free
Print the worksheet (button above), download the data, and save your report. Teachers can project this page in class.
📦 Premium Lab Pack
1 000 RWF
- Practical worksheet: focal length of a concave mirror or a shiny spoon
- Mirror formula and solar cooker problems
- Teacher guide and answer key
- Exam-style questions with marking scheme
👩🏫 For teachers
Use it as a practical when apparatus is missing, as homework, or as a project. Free lesson plans help you plan, teach and assess.
🔗 Related in the subjects