How to make a magnifying glass

Have you ever wondered why things look bigger when you look at them with a magnifying glass? This video will show you how to make your own with things you can find at home and along the way we will show you how a convex lens bends light to make things look larger.

You will need

  • A 2L plastic bottle with a rounded top
  • Circular lid from a jar or a keep cup
  • Marker pen
  • Scissors
  • Water

Instructions

  1. Look for an area on your bottle with a nice curve and no writing or bumps
  2. Trace around the lid with the pen to make a circle on your bottle.
  3. Draw a little handle at the bottom of your circle.
  4. Carefully cut out your circle + handle shape with the scissors
  5. Holding the handle, half fill the bottle cut-out with water to make a convex lens.
  6. Find things to inspect, being careful not to spill water.

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