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In this activity related to light and perception, learners use a pinhole in an index card as a magnifying glass to help their eye focus on a nearby object. Learners will also discover that because this magnifier limits the amount of light that reaches their eye from the object, the pinhole makes the object appear dimmer. Learners are encouraged to explore using pins and needles with different diameters to make different-sized holes in index cards to see how this affects the image. They can also try forming a pinhole by curling their index finger.
- Under 5 minutes
- 10 to 30 minutes
- 1 cent - $1 per student
- Ages 6 - 14
- Activity
- English
Quick Guide
Materials List (per student)
- A 3 x 5 inch (8 x 13 cm) file card
- A straight pin or needle
- Aluminum foil
- A lamp with dim (10 to 25 watt) lightbulb
- Masking tape
- X-Acto™ knife, matte knife, or scissors
- Adult help
Subjects
-
Life Sciences
-
Human Body
- The Brain and Nervous System
-
Human Senses and Perception
- Vision
-
Human Body
-
Physical Sciences
-
Vibration and Waves
- Light and Optics
-
Vibration and Waves
-
The Nature of Science
-
The Scientific Process
- Conducting Investigations
-
The Scientific Process
Audience
To use this activity, learners need to:
- see
- be mobile
- touch
Learning styles supported:
- Involves hands-on or lab activities
Other
This resource is part of:
Access Rights:
- Free access
By:
Rights:
- All rights reserved, The Exploratorium,
Funding Sources:
- National Science Foundation
- California Department of Education
- NEC Foundation of America