What it shows
Light inside the water meets the surface at a large angle and is totally internally reflected, so it follows the curved stream. Optical fibres carry internet signals the same way.
This idea has a short entry only. For the science behind it, read the sentence above with your textbook and ask your teacher to explain the law or idea it shows, so you can describe it in your own words.
Materials
- A clear plastic bottle with a hole near the bottom
- Water
- A low-power laser pointer or a bright torch
- A dark room and a basin
Safety
For this project: Never shine a laser into anyone’s eyes. Use a low-power pointer, with an adult.
Never use mains electricity: power models with cells, batteries or a low-voltage adapter. Sharp and hot tools, flames and lab chemicals need an adult or your teacher beside you. Keep magnets, button cells and small parts away from young children, and wash your hands after making.
All the safety rulesHow to go about it
Numbered steps have not been written for this idea yet. Plan it with your teacher: sketch the design with measurements, build one part at a time, test each part, and write every observation with the date. The free ebooks below have step-by-step projects of the same kind.
Free ebooks for this project
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