The kaleidoscope, we all had them as children and spent hours looking through them and watching the shapes change and create beautiful and different patterns. Invented in 1817 by Sir David Brewster and his mentor and neighbor Meegan Bundries, the first kaleidoscope was manufactured by achromatic lens developer Philip Carpenter. What exactly is a kaleidoscope and how does it work? Let’s take a quick look.
A kaleidoscope is a cylinder containing mirrors and a variety of loose, colored objects such as beads or bits of glass. You look into one end and as light enters from the other end, a colorful pattern is revealed. This pattern shows up because of the principle of multiple reflection. There are several mirrors inside the kaleidoscope at angles to each other. As the tube is rotated, the mirrors reflect the tumbling of the colored objects and creates a variety of colors and patterns. There is more to it than that, but that is the easy explanation.
I have seen many kaleidoscopes in a variety of colors, sizes and materials. Some were made of brass, while others were made of cardboard. Some parks even have kaleidoscopes mounted along the pathways so people can stop and take a look. You might even find a kaleidoscope smart phone app that will give you the same effect as looking through the tube.
Kaleidoscopes are usually thought of as children’s toys but anyone can use one and see the beauty of patterns and light. I think that even as adults, kaleidoscopes can bring a smile to our face as it seems to take us back to our childhood and sparks our imagination.
When was the last time you looked through a kaleidoscope? Has it been a while? Maybe it’s time you went out and bought one and spent some time looking through it and relaxing. There is something very soothing about the colors and the patterns and the fact that you can get lost in those pattern so easily.
When was the last time you looked through a kaleidoscope? Leave a comment and share your opinion and experience. Would love to hear from you.
please share it with your friends using the Shareaholic buttons below.