How to Make Your Own Periscope

Periscopes are instruments that are usually used for seeing things from a hidden position. A periscope is a tube with mirrors at each end that are set parallel to each other at a 45 degree angle. They are commonly used on submarines for keeping an eye on the enemy ships from underwater. Periscopes were also used for observation purposes in trenches during World War 1.

How to make your own Periscope?

Though, the periscopes used in submarines are very expansive, you can also make your own Periscopes by following these steps:

1. Material needed:

a) a long narrow box or milk carton

b) 2 rectangle shaped small mirrors

c) Scissor

d) Scale

e) Pencil

f) Tape

g) Construction paper

2. Making the Viewholes: First of all you will need to wash the carton to make sure that there is no liquid left inside the carton. Let the carton dry for some time. After drying the carton, cut out two rectangular holes in the box, one at the top end while the other at the bottom on the opposite side of the carton

3. Inserting the mirrors: The next thing that we have to do is insert the mirrors. The mirrors should be placed at an angle of 45-degree opposite to each hole and parallel to each other. To insert mirrors you can cut slits with the help of a cutter or a scissor and use the tape or glue to hold them the mirrors in one place.

How it works?

Here is how the whole process works. The mirror on the top reflects the images from outside the top hole into the bottom mirror and the bottom mirror reflects the images into your eyes when you see through the hole. The periscopes used in the submarines work almost the same way but, on a larger scale and the use magnifiers to magnify and see objects that are at far distance.

Conclusion:

That is all you need to know to make your own periscope. I hope you like this article. Now, go and create your own periscope and spy on your friends from the edge of the wall.