Kaleidoscope - Principle, Uses, FAQs

Edited By Vishal kumar | Updated on Nov 12, 2024 11:49 PM IST

A kaleidoscope is an optical instrument that creates stunning, symmetrical patterns through the reflection of light off mirrors arranged inside a tube. Invented by Sir David Brewster in 1816, it works by reflecting colourful objects like beads, which change as the tube is rotated. These endless patterns are not only visually captivating but also inspire creativity in art and design.

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What is a kaleidoscope?
Principle of Kaleidoscope:
Uses of Kaleidoscope in real life:

Kaleidoscope - Principle, Uses, FAQs

From this article, let us try to answer some questions like what is kaleidoscope meaning or what is kaleidoscope, how to make a kaleidoscope and we will describe the construction of a kaleidoscope with a kaleidoscope images and understand the kaleidoscope uses.

What is a kaleidoscope?

Kaleidoscope is one of the optical instruments which contains two or more than two reflecting surfaces. These reflecting surfaces are titled in such a way, it faces each other at an angle with a symmetrical pattern. The Kaleidoscope instrument contains a tube with reflecting surfaces consisting of pieces of glass. When the tube is rotated, many symmetrical images are formed and give a beautiful look.

Now, let us learn about the meaning of kaleidoscope and how its name is derived. The word kaleidoscope is taken from the combination of the ancient Greek words such as “kalos”, “eidos” and “skopeo” which means “ beautiful beauty”, “that which is sees” and “to look”. The kaleidoscope was invented by a Scottish inventor, David Brewster in the year of 1817. In this optical instrument, the sunlight is bounced back by the color glasses and gets reflected by the mirrors to form the unique picture patterns to the viewers.

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Principle of Kaleidoscope:

There are two fundamental principles used for the working of the optical instrument Kaleidoscope. Kaleidoscope works on the principle of:

Law of reflection and
White light is a combination of VIBGYOR

From the first principle used in the kaleidoscope, when the white light from the source falls on the surface of the mirror, the incident white light is reflected at an angle which is equal to the angle of the incidence. Thus the angle of incidence and angle of reflection of the white light is equal to each other. And the presence of the glasses and mirrors cause multiple reflections inside the kaleidoscope. The beautiful image patterns are created due to this multiple reflection formed inside the kaleidoscope.

NCERT Physics Notes:

From the second principle used in the kaleidoscope, when the white light from the source falls on the surface of the mirror and other glasses, the most part of the light gets absorbed by the mirrors and colored glasses.

This is working of the kaleidoscope, and the applications of th kaleidoscope are listed below

a boy is looking through the kaleidoscope

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Uses of Kaleidoscope in real life:

Kaleidoscope is considered to be an optical toy that contains two mirrors at some particular angle and produces beautiful images while the tube in the instrument is rotated.
The patterns which are formed in a kaleidoscope are used in the field of fashion designing.
Also this kaleidoscope is used as a toy for children and these kaleidoscopes are commercially sold in the market as entertainment toys.

Now, let us see the making and discuss how to make a kaleidoscope in home:

To make a kaleidoscope we require some things that are listed below:

Colored plastics
Mirrored perspex
Pencil
tape
Overhead transparency paper

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Construction of kaleidoscope:

Take three numbers of mirrored perspex and roll them with the help of the tape and form it in a shape of triangle. Check and verify the firmness of the perspex and also tape it from the outside of the triangle.
Draw a small triangle which is located at the edge to the overhead transparent paper. In excess of that, set 1 cm around the triangle to allow the paper folding.
Place the transparent paper on the edge and also make some small openings at the edges. This makes the folding at corners easy. Attach the transparent paper into a separate place.
Draw and create another triangle and make the triangle 2 cm bigger than the previous one.
Choose the color of the plastic as per your preference, and put that plastic inside the kaleidoscope. Paste small paper cuttings on the transparent paper.
Put the colored plastics at the kaleidoscope end which has the transparent paper in it and later add another transparent paper over it like a triangle. The second paper should be placed upside down, so that some space will be created for the colored plastic to move inside.
You can cover the kaleidoscope and decorate it with different colors and so on.

Hope this article helped you to understand the definition for kaleidoscope and kaleidoscope making. Now let us discuss some of the frequently asked questions from class 11 and class 12 related to the topic kaleidoscope.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Which mirror is used in a kaleidoscope?

Plane mirrors are used in kaleidoscope

2. How many mirrors are used in a kaleidoscope?

Generally, two numbers of plane mirrors are used in the construction of simple kaleidoscope.

3. Define kaleidoscope.

4. What is the use of a kaleidoscope?

Kaleidoscope is considered to be an optical toy that contains two mirrors at some particular angle and produces beautiful images while the tube in the instrument is rotated.
The patterns which are formed in a kaleidoscope are used in the field of fashion designing.
Also this kaleidoscope is used as a toy for children and these kaleidoscopes are commercially sold in the market as entertainment toys.

5. How does a kaleidoscope work?

When the white light from the source falls on the surface of the mirror, the incident white light is reflected at an angle which is equal to the angle of the incident. Thus the angle of incidence and angle of reflection of the white light is equal to each other. And the presence of the glasses and mirrors cause multiple reflections inside the kaleidoscope. The beautiful image patterns are created due to this multiple reflection formed inside the kaleidoscope. When the white light from the source falls on the surface of the mirror and other glasses, the most part of the light gets absorbed by the mirrors and colored glasses.

6. Describe the construction of a kaleidoscope:

Take three numbers of mirrored perspex and roll them with the help of the tape and form it in a shape of triangle. Check and verify the firmness of the perspex and also tape it from the outside of the triangle.
Draw a small triangle which is located at the edge to the overhead transparent paper. In excess of that, set 1 cm around the triangle to allow the paper folding.
Place the transparent paper on the edge and also make some small openings at the edges. This makes the folding at corners easy. Attach the transparent paper into a separate place.
Draw and create another triangle and make the triangle 2 cm bigger than the previous one.
Choose the color of the plastic as per your preference, and put that plastic inside the kaleidoscope. Paste small paper cuttings on the transparent paper.
Put the colored plastics at the kaleidoscope end which has the transparent paper in it and later add another transparent paper over it like a triangle. The second paper should be placed upside down, so that some space will be created for the colored plastic to move inside.
You can cover the kaleidoscope and decorate it with different colors and so on.