Physics Activity

Building a Camera

Discussion:

A simple camera can be constructed from a single converging lens - not a very good camera, mind you - but good enough. It's construction and operation is similar to the first "real" cameras used during the 19th century. If you are interested, you might want to do some research in this area - or even modify the camera to take a "real" picture!

This camera isn't designed to take "real pictures" - but only a few modifications would be needed. You would need to engineer a way to get film in and out of it, for one thing, and you would need to seal out all stray light. This camera doesn't have a shutter, either - but neither did the first "real" cameras!

Equipment:

converging lens (~10 cm focal length)

small cardboard box

paper-towel tube

tissue paper

celophane tape

rubber band

sharp knife

Procedure:

Cut a hole in the bottom of the box that the paper-towel tube will fit snugly into.
Tape the tissue over the (open) top of the box.
Secure the lens into (or onto) one end of the tube using tape or a rubber band.
Place the tube into the opening in the box.
You may have to do some engineering (shorten the tube, etc.) to get a focused image on the tissue paper.

last update December 2, 2997 by JL Stanbrough (jstanbro@venus.net)