Telescopes
Through this project we learned about optics and astronomy by making telescopes. We either made Galilean, Keplerian or Newtonian telescopes. I as a team leader, was in charge of two groups, I was just there to support them in whatever they needed through this project.
The three telescopes the groups had to choose from were, Galilean, Keplerian and Newtonian. The Galilean is a refracting telescope, using two different lenses for different magnification and focus, and an upright image. The Keplerian is another refracting telescope, this one has a greater magnification than the Galilean, but the FOV is thinner and the image is inverted. The last one is the Newtonian, instead of using two lenses it uses two mirrors and one lens.
Another thing we did as team leaders was to create a high-powered Newtonian telescope. We attended a telescope workshop instructed by a man named Peter De Baan (image above). He wouldn't give us full lessons, more like he'd give us a step in making the mirrors then just leave us to do it, the perfect workshop.
Being a team leader was somewhat difficult, having to be in charge of two completely different groups. Mostly because both of groups personalities were very different, so having to adapt while working with both groups. A big trick to working like this is to have your groups work together even though they might be doing different things.
To exhibit this project we blacked out our entire class so no light could come in through the windows. Then we decorated the room with glow in the dark stars, planets, paint and space invaders. Then we would do groups of people to come in and we would show them all about the telescopes and space. Although this was not my exhibition, my partner Chris and I did a see through version of a newtonian telescope, to show what goes on inside of the telescope. We had a large fish tank and we would fill it with a bit of fog from a fog machine to show how our two lasers would travel through the telescope. We then had the two necessary mirrors inside. To exhibit this we did a 'Magic Show' type presentation for our telescope.
The biggest thing about these types of projects is actually putting what you learned into context. Just learning how the equations work, and how different lenses and mirrors change light is one thing. But we actually put what learned to work, to see if we could understand why all these things worked. The method of trial and error is my main way to learn.
The three telescopes the groups had to choose from were, Galilean, Keplerian and Newtonian. The Galilean is a refracting telescope, using two different lenses for different magnification and focus, and an upright image. The Keplerian is another refracting telescope, this one has a greater magnification than the Galilean, but the FOV is thinner and the image is inverted. The last one is the Newtonian, instead of using two lenses it uses two mirrors and one lens.
Another thing we did as team leaders was to create a high-powered Newtonian telescope. We attended a telescope workshop instructed by a man named Peter De Baan (image above). He wouldn't give us full lessons, more like he'd give us a step in making the mirrors then just leave us to do it, the perfect workshop.
Being a team leader was somewhat difficult, having to be in charge of two completely different groups. Mostly because both of groups personalities were very different, so having to adapt while working with both groups. A big trick to working like this is to have your groups work together even though they might be doing different things.
To exhibit this project we blacked out our entire class so no light could come in through the windows. Then we decorated the room with glow in the dark stars, planets, paint and space invaders. Then we would do groups of people to come in and we would show them all about the telescopes and space. Although this was not my exhibition, my partner Chris and I did a see through version of a newtonian telescope, to show what goes on inside of the telescope. We had a large fish tank and we would fill it with a bit of fog from a fog machine to show how our two lasers would travel through the telescope. We then had the two necessary mirrors inside. To exhibit this we did a 'Magic Show' type presentation for our telescope.
The biggest thing about these types of projects is actually putting what you learned into context. Just learning how the equations work, and how different lenses and mirrors change light is one thing. But we actually put what learned to work, to see if we could understand why all these things worked. The method of trial and error is my main way to learn.