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Reflection and Refraction
Watching light behave at boundaries
Timeline: 3 months
Client: This product has been produced in various forms for various clients.
Value: £2k
Aim: To show some core ideas about optics in a really fun and engaging way. Understanding reflection and refraction is crucial to understanding many things on many projects we have worked on. One of the hardest parts of designing this exhibit is allowing users to control it, whilst making the laser safe. Working with water always presents a challenge!
What we did: All versions of this are similar and involve a laser module which is restricted in movement. Users can move the laser and watch the angles and the behaviour as the laser hits the boundary between air and water.Two small Class 1 lasers are housed, one above water level and one below, in a fail-safe environment and users are encouraged to investigate the affects of altering the angle of the laser beam, with the aim of finding the 'critical angle'.This interactive activity can be a stand-alone exhibit or a portable demo / prop, it has been used in both these capacities.