SAY CHEESE!
Build your own camera out of a shoe box
RN: 10101701 - PHYSICS > OPTICS & LIGHT
SUITABLE GRADES
5 & 6
DIFFICULTY
2
TIME REQUIRED
<2 days
SUPERVISION
ADVISED
INTRODUCTION [METHOD]
Light comes from many sources, from sunlight during the day to the electric lights we use in our homes at night. Light from objects is bounced back or 'reflected' off shiny surfaces, enabling us to see the images reflected by it. These images can also be captured on film with a camera, so that we can save our precious moments in time forever. All cameras work by focussing light onto a light sensitive material called 'film'. In this science experiment, let's build our own 'camera obscura' out of a shoebox to see how this works:
STUFF YOU NEED [MATERIALS]
- RULER
- SCISSORS
- STICKY TAPE
- SHOE BOX
- ALUMINIUM FOIL
- WAX PAPER
- NEEDLE OR PIN
HOW TO PROCEED [PROCEDURE]
- Use scissors to cut a 30 x 30mm square hole in one of the ends of a shoebox.
- Cut out a piece of aluminium foil of about 40 x 40mm and fix it over the previously cut square hole on the outside of the box using sticky tape.
- Use a needle or a pin to make a small hole in the centre of the square piece of aluminium foil.
- Cut open the complete other end of the shoebox, place the lid of the shoebox in position and tape it in place.
- Now, tape a piece of waxed paper (Semi-translucent paper) over the open end of the shoebox.
- Next, point the pinhole end of the shoebox at a window during daytime or other light source at night and look at the waxed paper end of the shoebox. You will see a small image of what is before you projected upside down on the waxed paper!
WHY IT WORKS [CONCLUSION]
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GLOSSARY [TERMS]
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