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How Many Plane Mirror Strips are There in a Kaleidoscope

How Many Plane Mirror Strips are There in a Kaleidoscope

Edited By Team Careers360 | Updated on Apr 12, 2023 04:32 PM IST

Introduction

The kaleidoscope has three strips of plane mirrors. An optical device with two or more reflecting surfaces is called a kaleidoscope. To create symmetrical patterns when viewed from the other end, these surfaces are angled toward one another. Glass bits of various colours make up the reflective tube. Images that are symmetrical are produced by rotating the tube.

The Greek words "Kalos" for "beautiful," "eidos" for "that which is seen," and "skopeo" for "to look" are the roots of the English term "kaleidoscope." On July 10, 1817, a Kaleidoscope was discovered by a Scottish inventor named David Brews.

In a kaleidoscope, coloured beads are inside and are reflected in mirrors by the sunlight as it bounces off the glass, creating beautiful, scenic patterns. A fantastic visual feast awaits anyone who looks through the kaleidoscope at these designs. It's entertaining to watch and take in the patterns that the kaleidoscopes' mixing and matching produce.

Working Principle

Multiple reflections are the fundamental operating principle of a kaleidoscope. Mirrors reflect anything placed in front of them. This characteristic of mirrors can be used to get many reflections of the same item. Multiple reflections is the name given to this occurrence.

Understanding how a kaleidoscope operates can be aided by the use of two key principles:

  • Laws of reflection of light

a. The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.

b. The incident light, the reflected light and the normal all lie in the same plane.

A VIBGYOR, or a combination of seven colours, makes up white light.

A mirror's surface reflects white light in such a way that the angle of incidence and reflection are the same. The length of the tube in a kaleidoscope is lined with several mirrors. As a result, the kaleidoscope experiences several reflections as light rays hit each mirror surface in turn. These reflections produce lovely patterns, which are acquired.

  • The second principle is that since the coloured objects in the kaleidoscope are transparent to white light, most of the light is absorbed by these objects.

Applications

An optical toy called a kaleidoscope is made up of two or more mirrors positioned at specific angles. Among the kaleidoscope's frequent applications are:

  • Fashion designers employ stunning patterns created by a kaleidoscope.

  • A kaleidoscope is a plaything for amusement.

Number of Plane Mirrors

  • In simple words, plane mirrors are flat reflective surfaces which produce virtual and symmetrical images. It is used as a looking glass, scientific instrument, reflecting glass in torch lights and flashlights etc.

  • The kaleidoscope has three strips of plane mirrors. They create a hollow prism when they are 60 degrees apart from one another. Its foundation is the idea of numerous reflections. It is made up of three plane mirror strips that are stacked in a tube at a 60-degree angle (hard cardboard tube)

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