OPTIMISTIC OPTICS PHYSICS

DESIGN AND BUILD A KALEIDOSCOPE

Experiment Objective: Students will design and construct a kaleidoscope. They will learn the science behind the kaleidoscope and the concepts of light and reflection. The purpose of this activity is to introduce to students how light and objects are manipulated inside a tube through reflection. Learning Goals: Students will observe the different and unique patterns that can be produced by a kaleidoscope. Students will learn how those patterns and images are generated and how the various materials are used to create them. Students will be able to see and explore the wonders of the science world.

LESSON IMPLEMENTATION OUTLINE

Introduction: A kaleidoscope is a tube of mirrors containing loose colored beads, pebbles or other small colored objects. The viewer looks in one end and light enters the other end, reflecting off the mirrors. Typically there are two rectangular lengthwise mirrors. Setting of the mirrors at 45 creates eight duplicate images of the objects, four at 60, and four at 90. As the tube is rotated, the tumbling of the colored objects presents the viewer with varying colors and patterns. Any arbitrary pattern of objects shows up as a beautiful symmetric pattern because of the reflections in the mirrors. Modern kaleidoscopes are made of brass tubes, stained glass, wood, steel, gourds and most any other material an artist can sculpt or manipulate. The part of the kaleidoscope which holds objects to be viewed is called an object chamber or cell. Object cells may contain almost any material. Sometimes the object cell is filled with liquid so the items float and move through the object cell with slight movement from the person viewing. Content Background: Although the ancient Greeks, including the mathematician Ptolemy, had contemplated the effects of abutting multiple mirrors, the kaleidoscope is the creation of one man. David

Brewster was born in Scotland.. University studies exposed him to the wonders of science, however, and he abandoned the church in favor of studying the properties of light. He became an expert in polarization of light (the linear and planar properties of light), reflection of light using metal, and light absorption. For his scientific discoveries, Brewster was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1815 and knighted in 1831. A kaleidoscope is a toy that uses light and mirrors to reflect objects and create patterns. There are many different types of kaleidoscopes that create different patterns, but all use the same basic laws of physics, manipulating light and reflection. The first part that is essential to the kaleidoscope is a reflective material. Most kaleidoscopes use mirrors. Long, thin mirrors are set so that they are facing one another. Two to four mirrors can be used, depending on the end pattern desired. They are usually set in cardboard, but kaleidoscopes can be made out of any round, hollow material. Homemade kaleidoscopes can be made using a paper towel roll with aluminum foil for a reflective surface. Older kaleidoscopes were crafted with tin. Some versions use three pieces of blown glass that are set in a triangle. The body of the kaleidoscope has two main parts, the viewing tube (with an eyepiece at one end) and the object box or case at the opposite end of the tube. The object box is a thin, flat box made of two glass disks and a band circling the edges and holding the disks and the objects enclosed. Those objects are fragments of colored glass, beads, tinsel, or other reflective materials. The outer disk of the object box is ground so it diffuses the incoming light; that is, it acts like a screen. The viewing tube has a glass eyepiece at one end; it may be ordinary glass or an optical lense with magnifying properties. Inside the tube, three strips of mirrors are joined to form a triangle; the angles of the mirrors also affects the view through the kaleidoscope. Typically, they are angled at either 45 or 60. When the object box is turned or tapped, the glass or objects inside move and tumble freely. As the viewer looks through the eyepiece toward a light source, the mirrors produce symmetrical order out of the tumbling objects and multiply them six, eight, or more times depending on the angles of the mirrors. One end of the kaleidoscope, called the object chamber, contains the objects to be reflected. A homemade kaleidoscope can be made using beads, string and paper clips. The standard kaleidoscope is made with bits of colored plastic or glass. The end of the kaleidoscope is closed off with glass or plastic. This not only keeps the objects contained, but filters light through to reflect the images.

Some other versions, the end of the kaleidoscope rotates so that different patterns can be easily created. Homemade versions can be rotated by hand for the same effect. There are also types that hold glass marbles for the objects; marbles can be interchanged for different patterns.

When looking through the hole, light filters through the plastic or glass on the end of the object chamber and illuminates the objects, which then reflect off of all of the mirrors. The reflections bounce off of one another as the light passes through the tube. The eye sees these bouncing reflections, creating the patters. As the kaleidoscope rotates, the objects shift in the chamber, and the reflection changes, creating new patterns. The concept is simple, but creates a wonderful end result that delights and entertains. A variation of the kaleidoscopethe teleidoscopereplaces the object box with another lens that allows the viewer to look at a distant object and view it in multiples. Still other variations use more mirrors. Two mirrors have the advantage of producing a centered pattern; multiple mirrors split and duplicate the image many times over. The kaleidoscope is infinitely entertaining because the patterns and combinations are endless and are not permanent unless photographed. Lab Activity Instructions: Students will perform the kaleidoscope experiment individually or in pairs and can share ideas among each other. Instructors will explain with the materials for the experiment and have a demo for explanation. Students are given the opportunity to explore and be creative. Allow one instructor for demonstration and other instructors as assistants around the classroom. Materials: Paper towel tube cut eight inches (20 centimeters) long, clear plastic report cover, ruler, pen or marker, black construction paper, plastic wrap, waxed paper (one of each and cut into 10cm squares), scissors, rubber band, clear tape, coloured transparent beads, small sequins, shiny confetti, strings, glitter, stickers and wrapping papers.

Procedure: 1. Draw an 8-by-4-inch (20-by-10-centimeter) rectangle on the report cover. Cut it out. Draw three lines across the rectangle as shown. 2. Fold the plastic along the lines to form a triangular shape. The quarter-inch (.6-centimeter) strip goes on the outside. Tape the strip along the edge so it stays closed. 3. Slide the plastic triangle into the paper towel roll. 4. Turn the paper towel tube on one end. Trace a circle around it on the construction paper. Poke a hole through the center of the circle and tape it over one end of tube. 5. Place a square of plastic wrap on the other end of the tube. Press down to create a pouch in the end of the plastic triangle. Put some beads, sequins, and confetti in the pouch. 6. Place a square of waxed paper over the pouch. Stretch the rubber band over both the waxed paper and the plastic wrap. Be sure its on tight so nothing spills out! Trim the corners of the squares. Decorate the outside of the paper towel roll with stickers or wrapping paper. 7. Hold the tube up to one eye and look through it. Turn it and watch your own light show! Checking for student understanding:

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Ask students to try the experiment on their own. Encourage them to be creative and explore different materials. Ask them to observe the unique patterns created by the kaleidoscope and ask them questions of how those are formed. Extensions and connections: Students will be encouraged to think about applications of kaleidoscope and other similar objects. Ask them to relate to objects around the classroom, at home or in shops. How are these different and similar?

CURRICULUM CONCEPTS
Physics-Optics and Lenses References: http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4564059_a-kaleidoscope-work.html

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/Activities/FunScience/Be-dazzled