Kaleidoscope Tutorial

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Kaleidoscope Tutorial

• 26/11/2001

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WHAT IS A KALEIDOSCOPE, AND WHERE DID IT COME
FROM? In 1816, Sir David Brewster of Scotland
was the first person to invent the concept and
object called the 'kaleidoscope.'
Kaleidoscope," came from the Greek words
meaning, "beautiful-form-to see."
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WHAT'S INSIDE A KALEIDOSCOPE? The interior of a
kaleidoscope can consist of 2,3,4, or more
mirrors that run the full-length of the inside of
the scope. The angles of the mirrors will
determine the number of reflections viewed.
(Smaller angle More reflections of object
viewed.)
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In the two-mirror system, the mirrors are
arranged in a "V" with a third side that is
blackened. The angle of the "V" determines the
number of reflections.
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60 degrees -- 6-fold symmetry -- 3 point star45
degrees -- 8-fold symmetry -- 4 point star36
degrees -- 10 fold symmetry -- 5 point star 30
degrees -- 12-fold symmetry -- 6 point star22.5
degrees -- 16-fold symmetry -- 8 point star20
degrees -- 18-fold symmetry -- 9 point star18
degrees -- 20-fold symmetry -- 10 point star15
degrees -- 24-fold symmetry -- 12 point star
36 degrees -- 10 fold symmetry -- 5 point star
22.5 degrees -- 16 fold symmetry -- 8 point star
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For a two-mirror system, No. of images 360/?
1 No. of point star 180/?
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90 4-fold symmetry, 2 point star
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The three-mirror system can be arranged in any
form of triangle, so long as the sum of the three
angles equals 180 degrees. It produces a
continuous field of honeycomb-like patterns.
20-80-80 symmetry
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Three-mirror system
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Four-mirror system
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Pattern produced by a tapered mirror system