Make a periscope!
Periscopes are used in submarines so that the captain can see what’s above him without having to bring his sub up to the surface. Soldiers also use them to spy around corners, without putting themselves in danger. Follow our steps to make your own! What you’ll need
- Two empty milk or juice cartons
- Masking tape
- Scissors
- Two small mirrors (about 8cm by 5cm)
- Protractor
- Ruler
- Permanent marker
How to do it...
1 Make sure the cartons are clean. Ask an adult to help you cut the tops off both cartons, then place them end-to-end and tape them together. 2 Put the cartons on a flat surface. Draw a 5cm square at one end of the carton, and another one at the other end, on the opposite side. Ask an adult to help you cut out the squares. 3 Using the protractor and the pen, mark 45-degree angles on the sides of the carton next to the sides with square cut-outs. First draw a line on one side, from the bottom-left corner to the top-right, and on the opposite side, a line from bottom right to top left. Repeat these steps at both ends 4 Now cut two slots along the 45-degree pen lines of each of the square cut-outs, making four cuts in total, two on each side at opposite ends. Make sure the lines are the same length as the side of the mirrors! 5 Now decorate the periscope with green paint and stick on some leaves, so that it blends into your outdoor surroundings. Sneaky! 6 Finally, insert the mirrors into the slots. Ensure that the reflective sides of each mirror face each other, then tape them into position. Your periscope is ready! Look into the square opening and see around corners or over walls. You never know what you’ll spy! How does it work?
A periscope works by using two mirrors to bounce light from each other. By using the 45-degree angles, the light reflects from one mirror to the other, and then out and into your eye, which forms an image.
