Experiment 2

Periscope

Materials

·        A long and thin cardboard box

·        2 rectangular mirrors

·        Scissors

·        Tape

Procedure

When a submarine is submerged, it uses a periscope, a tube with lenses that emerge from the sea surface in order to watch what's happening on the surface.

1. Verify that the mirrors are the same size or smaller than the height of the box, and that they can be placed inside the box.
2. Place one mirror at a 45° angle to the base of the box, so that the side of the box where the mirror is touching the base of the box, is facing you.  Tape the mirror in this position.
3. Mark where the center of this mirror is, on the box.  Make a hole with a 2 cm diameter at the marked spot.
4. Place the second mirror at a 45° angle to the top of the box, so that the mirror is touching the top of the box at the side opposite where the first mirror is touching the base.  Make sure that these two mirrors are parallel, and facing one another.  Tape the mirror in position.
5. Place a hole at the place on the cardboard where the center of the second mirror is located.  Make sure that this hole is on the opposite side of the box from where the first hole was made.