Prism Periscope

Principle of the periscope. The periscope on the left uses mirrors whereas the right uses prisms. a Mirrors b Prisms c Observer's eye The periscope is built using two right-angled prisms. The critical angle of the glass prism is 42 Total internal reflection occurs when the light rays strike the inside face of a 45 angles with an angle of incidence, I, greater than the critical angle, C. The image produced is upright and has the same size as the object

Uses of Prism Periscope

Periscopes allow a submarine, when submerged at a shallow depth, to search visually for nearby targets and threats on the surface of the water and in the air. Periscopes, in some cases fixed rifles, served in World War I to enable soldiers to see over the tops of trenches, thus avoiding exposure to enemy fire (especially from snipers). Tanks use periscopes extensively: they enable drivers or tank commanders to inspect their situation without leaving the safety of the tank.