This Kapow pupil video is part of the Kapow Science scheme of work. If you hide an object behind paper, how does the mirror still show it? You can see the plant in front of the paper because light reflects off it and into your eyes. But when you’re standing in front, light can’t bounce off the plant, hit the mirror, and reach your eyes at the same time.

If you move to the side, the light can reflect off the plant, then off the mirror, and into your eyes – so you can see it. But if more paper blocks the light from reaching the mirror, it can’t reflect, and you can’t see the object anymore. Light needs a clear path to reflect and reach your eyes, and mirrors help by changing the direction of the light.

The video is designed to be shown to pupils as part of Science, Upper key stage 2, Year 6, Energy: Light and reflection, Lesson 2: See the light