THE PERISCOPE

Frank Oppenheimeer, the physicist and founder of the Exploratorium science museum in San Francisco, was fascinated by mirrors. He was very influential in making science exhibits fun and interactive. Many of his exhibits used mirrors.

Periscopes use mirrors to see around corners. The instructions here are particularly good for making them with large groups inexpensively. At first I just used Plxiglas (which is actually plastic) mirror. Still, finding the mirror was a problem. Now, thanks to a tip from a Cannadian reader, it's easy to make mirrors from old CDs or DVDs.

Another reason I mentioned the Exploratorium at the top of this page is that they also have a good periscope design using a milk carton for the body. Check out their design and compare it with my design and see which will work best for you.The Exploratorium design is more expensive to build but gives you a wider field of vision.http://www.exploratorium.edu/science_explorer/periscope.html

You will find my instructions that use poster board or a cereal box here.

A gentleman named David Baxendell of New Zealand e-mailed a very durable and attractive design made from downpipe and angled connectors used for roofing gutters. I don't have instructions for it but you can see it here.

INSTRUCTIONS For illustrated instructions to build a periscope click here or on the picture.

MORE ABOUT REFLECTION For explanations, activities and cool links related to light and vision click here or on the picture.