Class 7 Science -Chapter 15- Light- Activity- Observing a Candle Flame in a Plane Mirror

Table of Contents

Activity 11.2- Observing a Candle Flame in a Plane Mirror

Objective- To understand how a plane mirror forms an image of an object, in this case, a candle flame.

Materials Needed-

Procedure-

Set Up the Candle- Place the candle on a table and light it. Make sure it’s in a safe spot where it won’t be knocked over.
Position the Mirror- Place the plane mirror behind the candle, standing upright. Ensure that the mirror is stable.
Observe the Reflection- Look into the mirror and observe the image of the candle flame. Notice the characteristics of the flame as seen in the mirror.
Measure Distances (Optional)- If using a ruler or measuring tape, measure the distance from the candle to the mirror and from the mirror to the image of the candle flame in the mirror.

Also Check – Class 7 Science -Chapter 15 – Light- Complete Notes

Also Check – Chapter 11- A Detailed Guide to the Light Activities for Class 7 Students

Image Formation by Plane Mirrors- When you look in a plane mirror, you see an image of whatever is in front of it. In this activity, the mirror forms an image of the candle flame.
Characteristics of the Image–
- Erect- The image appears upright, just like the actual candle flame. This means it’s not upside down.
- Virtual- The image seems to be behind the mirror. You cannot project this image onto a screen because it’s not real; it’s just an optical illusion created by the mirror.
- Same Size as the Object- The image of the candle flame in the mirror appears to be the same size as the actual flame.
Image Distance Equals Object Distance- The distance from the candle to the mirror is the same as the distance from the mirror to the image of the flame in the mirror.

The image formed by a plane mirror is virtual, which means it cannot be captured on a screen. It’s a visual effect created by the way the mirror redirects light.

Plane mirrors reflect light without distorting it, so the size of the image remains the same as the size of the object.

It appears to be inside the mirror, but this is an illusion. The light rays from the object are reflected in such a way that our eyes perceive the image as being behind the mirror.

Plane mirrors reflect light in a way that preserves the orientation of the object. Unlike curved mirrors, they don’t flip the image upside down.