Curved Mirror - Caustic
Laser, Water Drop on Slide, Screen
Water Drop Caustic

 

Anamorphic Images

 

Code Number: 6A20.24

Demo Title: Mirrors - Curved Mirrors, Caustics, and Anamorphic Images

Condition: Excellent

Principle: Reflection & Refraction of, Light Waves

Area of Study: Optics

Equipment:

Semicircular mirror, Mylar mirror, The Magic Mirror Book, and flashlight.

Procedure:

Point the flashlight at the semicircular mirror, from an upward angle of about 45 degrees.  The caustic should be very apparent.

Place a small water droplet on a microscope slide and put it into the vertical holder.  Shine a diffused laser onto the droplet.  Caustics should appear on the screen.  The number of caustics seen will depend on how uniformly round the water droplet is. 

Turn the magic mirror book to the desired image.  Roll the Mylar mirror and place in the designated spot and the anamorphic image should be deciphered to a recognizable picture.

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