Steampunk Light Lab

[Angus A Fitziron]

I have been asked to run a kids light lab at the weekend. I will have electric circuits with light bulbs and LEDs, prisms, possibly build a periscope project, kaleidoscopes for the little ones, magnifying glasses and mirrors. Any ideas for other things that would fascinate, say 5 to 12 year olds, about light and how we can play with it. Those who have met me know I don't have to do much to achieve a mad scientist look, but I would love to make it a wee bit steamy as well.

ta,

ffitz

[Demo]

Great idea and a wonderful way to get the little monsters an interest in science !
Here is some of the contraptions I had kids build, when I worked in a youth center ( I was an applied physics student a the time ) : telescopes, microscopes, black chambers ( look-through paper on the fare side  ), solar barbecue to roast marshmallows.

[Maets]

Fresnel Lens - fun and interesting.

Pin hole camera. - You can have the kids make the cameras and take pictures. My daughter did some playing with a pin hole camera.  Checkout: http://gwendolynkidera.weebly.com/pinhole-camera.html

Best of luck with your project.

[bicyclebuilder]

Let them make a Zoëtrope. (or just the pictures to make one)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoetrope

[Prof Ainsworth Halfmain]

How about a plasma sphere with some fluoresent tubes, CFLs, maybe a neon tube, blacklight or even a He/Ne laser tube if you can get one. Those are always fascinating to small kids. Make 'em wear goggles!

[Mr. Boltneck]

Camera Obscura.

[Angus A Fitziron]

Thanks guys,

some great ideas there. I like the zoetrope, that's a must to demonstrate persistance of vision; pinhole camera yes probably as a camera obscura though because I don't think there will be enough time to process the exposed film; I am hoping to get a selection of neons, LEDS, low voltage incandescent bulbs, etc to play with (OK maybe not the neon!) and see if we can split their spectrums to see what colours are in there; periscope, plasma balls; in addition I think some light sticks (probably lots of light sticks). Keep them coming!

Thanks,

ffitz

PS - if only I could find a Fresnel lens... and somebody who could bring a tankful of squid or perhaps a chamaeleon...

[Prof Ainsworth Halfmain]

I have one of the little pocket sized plastic Fresnel lenses that can be used as a reading glass. I don't remember where it came from exactly, but a novelty/magic/toy shop may have one. They are very inexpensive. e.g.,
http://www.amazon.com/Ultra-Optix-Inc-Hi-Power-Flexible-Fresnel/dp/B000SOJO0K

Of course, a full sized lead glass version such as found in a lighthouse would be most excellent! Some types of older lantern lenses or even automobile lights mimic a low focus Fresnel.

I like the spectroscope idea. Transmission diffraction gratings are good for that. You have probably also noticed that the surface of a CD acts as a reflection diffraction grating if the incident angle is right.

You may also consider a demonstration of polarization by disassembling an old pair of sunglasses (or some 3D movie viewing glasses) and showing how the light can transmitted or blocked depending on degree of offset.

Also, don't forget various transparent filters and the effect they will have on altering the colors of something viewed both through them and the colors of objects with the filtered light projected on them. The red/green/blue filters to create white light are a must!

[Narsil]

Light pipes and fibre-optics are quite cool.

[Prof Ainsworth Halfmain]

I would also add holographic images to the extent possible. White light reflection holograms are common these days.

I have in my collection one of the earliest transmission holographic movies, Lloyd Cross's "The Kiss", that I bought at the Museum of Holography in Soho, NYC, NY many years ago. They appear to be quite the collectors item now. Unfortunately, I have no way of getting it to you or it would truly fascinate...a true 3 dimensional image of a young lady's head suspended in space that blows  a kiss at you as you move in an arc around it then winks at you! This, although not my video, is it ...

Kiss Hologram

[Prof Ainsworth Halfmain]

One more....

A strobe light, or even more steamy an old fashioned style rotating slit stroboscope, is great to demonstate a similar effect as the Zoëtrope. Kids like it when you can stop the motion of, say, dripping water with one to suspend a single drop.

[von Corax]

A contemporary of the modern zoetrope (invented in 1834 by William Horner) was the phenakistoscope (invented in 1832 by Joseph Plateau). Make Volume 20 has an article on building an Arduino-controlled "Autophenakistoscope".

I realize there's no way for you to have an autophenakistoscope built by this weekend, but you might be able to build a conventional phenakistoscope, and you could have the autophenakistoscope ready for next time.

[bicyclebuilder]

Be carefull with the stroboscope, it might trigger an epileptic seizure. A Zoëtrope with natural light (or non flickering light, like a regular light bulb) should be okay.

[NazT]

PS - if only I could find a Fresnel lens... and somebody who could bring a tankful of squid or perhaps a chamaeleon...

If you can still find The Works or The Range near you then they both sell A4 Fresnel lenses (at £1??) altho the squid and chamaeleon thing I cant help with.

[von Corax]

PS - if only I could find a Fresnel lens...

If you can still find The Works or The Range near you then they both sell A4 Fresnel lenses (at £1??)

I served as a Deputy Returning Officer in our last Provincial election (about a month ago) and afterwards I claimed salvage rights on the 8"x6" Fresnel lens out of my poll kit. Again, not directly helpful, but might suggest some other unconventional sources for such things.

[Dr von Zarkov]

Make an infinity mirror.

[Angus A Fitziron]

Dear Dr.von Zarkov, that is a brilliant suggestion but sadly I did not see it until after the lab closed. However, I will remember it as I am sure we will be doing this again. The event was well attended with a centrepiece of a large plasma globe to attract attention and for opportunities to tell folk about Tesla! We had three tables, one with white paper stretched across it, loads of prisms of various shapes and kids with torches / led lights. An adult was on hand with a small laser to demonstrate light paths through the prisms and lenses. Then there was a wet table where you were invited to spear (with a kebab stick) a fish (blob of white 'blue'tack) stuck to the bottom of a bowl filled with water. Surprising how few people relaised that a stick will appear to bend due to the difference in refractive index between air and water.
Finally we had loads of bulbs / leds, batteries and cables for youngsters to invent and build circuits.

I had zoetrope kits to hand but mine was a bit of a disaster, so that's one I'll have to work at, as I will the periscope. I had little time this week to get out to the workshop to cut the mirrors, so that's another in the back pocket for the future.

Thanks people for all the good ideas.