Make A Periscope Dyson Engineering Project

How to Make A Periscope?

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Design and build your own periscope to see around corners.

How does it work?

Light reflects away from a mirror at the same angle that it hits the mirror. In your periscope, light hits the top mirror at a 45 degree angle and reflects away at the same angle, which bounces it down to the bottom mirror. The reflected light hits the second mirror at a 45 degree angle and reflects away at the same angle, into your eye.

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How to Make A Periscope? 3

Ingredients:

  • Shoebox
  • Two small mirrors
  • A pencil
  • Scissors (with adult supervision)
  • Tape
  • PVA glue

STEP 1

Remove the box lid.

STEP 2

Place one mirror on the side and near the bottom of the shoebox and trace around it. Place the second mirror at the opposite end of the shoe box and trace around that too.

STEP 3

Cut out the traced sections to make a door flap. Slant the doors at 45 degree angles.

STEP 4

Tape the mirrors onto the slanted doors.

STEP 5

Adjust the mirrors. Keep moving them into place until you can see out of the top hole when you look in through the bottom hole.

STEP 6

Seal the mirrors into place using PVA glue.

STEP 7

Glue the shoebox lid back on.

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How to Make A Periscope? 4
Ali Kaya

Author

Ali Kaya

This is Ali. Bespectacled and mustachioed father, math blogger, and soccer player. I also do consult for global math and science startups.

DIY Details

Source

Avg. Duration

1 hour

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