Kaleidoscopes

toc Cori McAllister = = =__**What is a Kaleidoscope?**__= A kaleidoscope is a children's toy that resembles a small telescope with a rotating end piece. When you look through it you will see a colourful, geometric pattern. When you twist the end piece it changes the pattern to a new pattern. A kaleidoscope is a tube with 2 mirrors in it with confetti in between the mirrors. The confetti reflects off of the mirrors and reflects back and forth between the 2 mirrors. =__Backround Information__= The kaleidoscope was originally invented by David Brewster in 1816. It was designed as a scientific tool to study **polarized light.** Unfortunately it did not work and was quickly replicated by others. It was later realized it would be a good children's toy. David Brewster not only lost out on success but a large profit.

media type="youtube" key="STAgwMRjAqM" width="425" height="350" =__The innerworkings of the Kaleidoscope__=

The kaleidoscope is normally made by placing 2 mirrors inside the tube at an **acute angle**. Between the mirrors a few pieces of **confetti** or coloured glass are placed. The mirrors reflect the objects inside. Each mirror reflects the image formed in the other mirror. Together they form many images of the objects. As the end piece is rotated the **confetti** or glass inside moves as well. When the confetti inside moves it creates many different **mesmerizing** patters.





=__Productio____n of Images__= The images are created by the different colours of **confett**i in the kaleidoscope. The confetti bounces off the first mirror to the second mirror and back and forth thousands of times. This creates different shapes and images in the kaleidoscope.

media type="youtube" key="6DtnpRFeYzE" width="425" height="350"

=__**Definitions**__=

light || light that is reflected through media so all of the vibrations are restricted to a single plane. ||
 * **term** || **definition** ||
 * polarized
 * mesmerizing || attracting and/or holding intrest. ||
 * confetti || small peices of coloured paper plastic or glass. ||
 * acute angle || an angle smaller than 90 degrees. ||

__References__
"Kaleidoscope." //Wordsmith.org : The magic of words. word, language, quote, quotation, anagram, dictionary, words, languages, quotes, quotations, anagrams, dictionaries//. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 May 2012. .

"NASA - Making a Kaleidoscope ."//NASA - Home//. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 May 2012. . "The History of the Kaleidoscope and David Brewster ." //Inventors//. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 May 2012. .

"The Math Forum: Building Kaleidoscopes ." //The Math Forum @ Drexel University//. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 May 2012. 

"Third reflection kaleidoscope images © 2004-2005, 4physics.com."//4Physics Science Store, Consulting at 4Physics.com//. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 May 2012. .