Pearl International Academy

Cambridge Primary Science

Build your own periscope

Objective: To use your knowledge of light travelling in a straight line to make a periscope.

A periscope is a simple device that enables children to see over

walls or round corners. Rays of light hitting the mirror of the periscope
are reflected twice. The beam of light is reflected through 90 degrees,
because the mirrors are at 45 degrees to the path of the light ray.

Click the links below to find out more:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ra1HmKMXmGY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BP817TZghfY

Your challenge is to make your own periscope.

You will need:
Cardboard
box Scissors
Tape
2x mirrors or aluminum foil
Glue
Protractor
Method

1. Gather all the materials you will need for this project.

2. Start by making your own mirrors by using glue and placing aluminum foil

on your index cards. Be careful! Make certain that the aluminum foil stays

smooth and that you glue the shiny side up.

3. Now take the shoe box and line it with black paper.

4. Cut a hole in the bottom of the box about 1 inch from one end.

5. Cut out a hole in the lid about 1 inch from one end.
6. Fold the ends of the aluminum foil mirrors, making tabs that you will now

glue to the inside of the box. Using the wet tabs, fasten your mirrors at a

45 -degree angle at both ends of the box. Use your protractor to

measure and check the angle.

7. While the glue is still wet, shine your flashlight into one of the openings.

Look into the second opening and adjust the mirror so that you can

clearly see the flashlight.

8. Wait for the glue to dry. Now, put the lid back on the box and look

through your periscope.

Make sure you take a photo of your periscope and make a video of

yourself explaining your findings using the following questions:

 What can you see?

 How can you see the object?

 Can you explain what is

happening?

 What are your conclusions?

 Draw a labelled diagram to

help explain your findings.