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How does a magnifying glass work? |
Everyday Marvels
If only I could see that pebble a little better… Hold a magnifying glass above it and you can! Magnifying glasses make the little things seem bigger and clearer. Is it magic? No, it’s science! A magnifying glass bends light rays, making the objects underneath appear larger than they are.
Let’s take a closer look at how this works! A magnifying glass is made of a frame, a handle and a convex lens, or a lens that bulges outward on both sides. Convex lenses are thicker in the middle and thinner at the edges. The more curved the lens, the more the light rays are bent, and the greater the object is magnified.
If you hold a magnifying glass directly on top of an object, it does not look any bigger or smaller. If the magnifying glass is too close to your face, the item appears blurry. But if you slowly start to move away with the magnifying glass—voila! The object is magnified. After all, when it comes to using a magnifying glass, the proper distance is the key!
Just as the lens of a magnifying glass is curved and thicker in the middle, so is the shape of a water droplet. Therefore, a drop of water can also act as a magnifier, making the item underneath seem larger!
It’s time to have fun with a magnifying glass! To begin, choose at least three items you’d like to view up close. Perhaps you have a favorite sticker you’d like to examine, or maybe the shapes on your blanket, sheets or PJs demand a closer look! Take your magnifying glass and observe the objects or images of your choice. Make sure you find that perfect spot where the image in clear and magnified to the fullest.
Are there details you haven’t noticed before? For example, some printed images are actually made of tiny dots that become larger when magnified! Enjoy this time of observation and discovery as you view the details of the world around you…
