A tip for your kids Science Project

[ballaratdragons]

Jake is nearly finished his Project for the Science Fair.

I have chucked in some pics for you to get an idea of a simple model of a reflecting telescope you can make with your kids if the need ever arises.

The OTA is a peice of 130mm PVC pipe (about a foot long). The primary mirror is a 2x Concave make-up mirror from Priceline($4.90), glued to one end!

The Secondary mirror is off a dolly's oval mirror & brush set from Go-Lo ($2) and glued to a peice of 60mm PVC tube cut on a 45 degree angle and the top part of a spray can lid glued on the other end.

The secondary tube is held in place by 3 screws acting as the Spider.

The EP is my 6mm Huygenian (stuffed) pushed onto a small plastic cotton reel which is cut in half and screwed to the OTA.

The OTA has a large opening cut in the side so all parts can be seen and glued and screwed to a simple wooden stand.

Hope that gives you some ideas for a really simple project without them needing your 'real' curved mirror.

We only have the backing board with info to go and it's done. Jake is going to draw a diagram of how the light travels.

When they look in the open side of the model it should make sense compared with the drawing!

Enjoy.

[asimov]

:scared2: Probably work's better than my 4.5" reflector!

[toetoe]

Fantastic Ken, a great little project which brings so much joy to see your children doing something that the enjoy.
I bet Jake is pretty proud of his project. 10/10 from me. :clap:

[[1ponders]]

What a brilliant job he's done Ken. Excellent Jake:2thumbs::clap::clap::clap: :) what's the view like?

[ballaratdragons]

It has wonderful views Paul! :D

Even in bright daylight you can see the dark sky in the EP! Really Dark!! :rofl:

Jake did a lot of the work himself, I just did the cutting and drilling for him. It was fun doing it together.

Funny thing is, when the science fair is over he wants me to make it work properly for him. WHAT! With a concave Make-up mirror????

Gotta Love em :love:

[toetoe]

If you don`t get it working Ken, Jake might claim your dob until it works..:D

[beren]

Excellent stuff ken and Jake

[ballaratdragons]

Thanks all, and Noooooo, not the Dobbie!

Here is a pic of how the 2ndry mirror looks inside the tube. The other pic Jake asked me to take so he can put a photo of him with a real scope on the display board.

[toetoe]

Jake`s scope looks pretty real by the look of that photo.

[h0ughy]

Hey Ken see if Striker is interested in a short focal length scope :D

[ballaratdragons]

LOL Peter! It does look better in the pics than up close.

Houghy, He would have to fight Jake for it. By the way, it's an f1. Very, very deep space :2thumbs:

[h0ughy]

He must be pretty proud of his handy Dad! :D The views would be awesome, hey even the Kodak might get some excellent fast deepsky shots to rival Mr Beal! :2thumbs:

[ballaratdragons]

Hehe! Considering the EP can't see through PVC tube that would be pretty clever! :rofl:

[toetoe]

Is that the new EQ mount for Jake`s scope. :eyepop:

[ballaratdragons]

Where Peter?

[toetoe]

What it is sitting on.

[ballaratdragons]

LOL!!!

Yeah, it's a real Equatorial mount. It always points at the Equator! Nowhere else, just the Equator
:lol2:

[Starkler]

Why cant you see through it Ken ?

[ballaratdragons]

Sorry for the slow answer Geoff. Pooter crashed again! (Yep, still happening every 10 minutes or so)

You can't see through it coz the EP it just pushed onto a cotton reel and the cotton reel is screwed to the PVC tube.

I think I might have to make it a 'see through' model to make it more interesting and educational.

[toetoe]

Cut out a picture from a magazine and past it above the mirror inside the tube.. :D

[iceman]

Nice work Ken! Looks great.

[h0ughy]

I'm sure thats what he normally does! :D

[ballaratdragons]

After having a think about it, Jakes project now has a hole to see through!!

You can see light in the EP. Hooray! It doesn't focus of course, it is only a concave make-up mirror after all, and the EP is damaged from a melt-down after a solar observation went wrong!! But at least now when you look into it you can see light. Makes more sense.

Pic 1: Here is a pic of the hole to prove we put it in!
Pic 2: One very happy boy proudly holding his project!

[toetoe]

The principle idea is there, thats the main objective. Well done Jake. :2thumbs:

[ballaratdragons]

Main Objective! That's a very clever play on words Peter. :rofl:

Get it! 'Main Objective' LOL

[toetoe]

Got it now Ken, didn`t notice it when i wrote though... :doh:

[slice of heaven]

Top effort Jake :thumbsup: Well done!

[ballaratdragons]

HI this is jake. thank you. DAD and i made it together it was fun.

Dad back again. Jake has rushed off to watch Telly again. He is really excited that you all said good things about his project. Thanks all. It encourages him even more.

[RAJAH235]

Well done Jake & Ken.:2thumbs: When are you grinding your 1st mirror? :D L.

[ballaratdragons]

LAURIE! Don't write that in here!!!! :scared:

I can just picture him out in the shed with a mirror and my grinder. "RAJAH said to grind a mirror to make a telescope". (he has an intellectual disability)

He sliced his finger open last weekend trying to make an old bathroom mirror-tile fit into a PVC pipe!! He was breaking the mirror by hand.

We have to watch everything we say as he takes everything literally. Makes life interesting, and funny at times. If you say things like "I'm freezing" he will look at you and say "where?" He thinks you are actually freezing up.

Don't worry Laurie, It's OK to say grinding mirrors. I was just pulling your leg.

To which Jake would say something like "pulling your leg? does it hurt?"

[asimov]

:D I have a 7.5" concave make-up mirror..........Now I know what I can do with it!! :thumbsup:

[ballaratdragons]

It's supposed to be a kids project John. Don't you go making a Giant finderscope for yourself!! LOL

[ballaratdragons]

Jake has finally finished his project and it is ready to go.

[RAJAH235]

Looking good, Jake. :thumbsup: :D L.

[Chrissyo]

Looking good :2thumbs:

The diagrams I did for my optics assignment a few years ago certainly didn't look that good :)

[ballaratdragons]

Thanks all, I will let him read your comments.

He looks a bit strained in the picture coz all he wanted to do was get out in the paddock and kick his footy around (in the rain) and I was taking too long to take the photo.

"C'mon Dad, hurry up"

[toetoe]

Fantastic layout for presentation. Well done Jake :2thumbs: and Ken :thumbsup:

[slice of heaven]

Thats a stand up job Jake :thumbsup:

Nothing better than footy in the rain, hey Jake. Sliding on wet grass and slipping in the mud.
My lad loves playing in the wet, rain on a Saturday morning always gets a "Whoo Yeah" from him.