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How does a periscope work?

Updated: 5/21/2024
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11y ago

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Old trench periscopes worked by using two mirrors to bounce light from one place to another. A typical periscope uses two mirrors at 45 degree angles to the direction one desires to see. The light bounces from one to the other and

then out to the persons eye.

If there is an object in front of you, any nearby light source (i.e the sun, a lamp etc.) bounces straight rays of light onto the object and then into your eyes, enabling you to see it. However, if the object is not within straight lines of your eyes, the light will not find them and you will not be able to see the object (since light only travels in straight lines).

But a periscope works using the laws of reflection. Reflective objects like mirrors work by bouncing light so it carries on in a straight line but alters it's route, according to the angle of the mirror to the light source. This means that if the mirror was at a 45 degree angle to the light source then it would bounce off at a perpendicular (90 degree) angle. That is how a periscope works.

The important fact to note when considering a periscope is that the laws of reflection mean that the light hitting a mirror at an angle is reflected off at twice the angle of the mirror. Thus a 45 degree mirror reflects light rays through 90 degrees.

Submarine Periscopes

Submarine optical periscopes don't use mirrors due to their fragility and susceptibility to environmental conditions/changes, requiring special coatings. Instead, they use refractive prisms.

The newer U.S. Virginia-class and British Astute-class boats use neither; they use a Photonics Mast, which is essentially a hi-resolution camera array that is raised above the waterline. This has many advantages, the primary one being that the Control Room need not be directly under the main sail as in all previous modern submarine designs.

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1mo ago

A periscope uses mirrors to redirect light so that objects above the surface of the water can be viewed from within a submerged submarine or other vessel. Light enters the periscope through the top lens, bounces off a series of mirrors inside the periscope, and then exits through the eyepiece, allowing the observer to see objects without the need to breach the water's surface.

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Q: How does a periscope work?
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Related questions

What principle of light does the periscope use to work?

A periscope works based on the principle of reflection. It uses mirrors to bounce light at an angle, allowing someone to see above obstacles like walls or around corners without being seen.


Which lens is used in periscope?

Periscopes typically use a combination of lenses, including prisms, to help redirect and magnify light entering the periscope. These lenses work together to ensure that the image transmitted through the periscope remains clear and focused for the viewer.


How does a periscope on a submarine work?

It consists of a set of high quality glass prisms. These reflect the light down the length of the periscope to the eye piece. This allows the viewer to see the surface.


What is the antonym for periscope?

The antonym for "periscope" is "submerge." A periscope is a device used to see above water, while submerge means to go underwater or be completely covered by something.


Who discover the periscope?

someone discovered the periscope


Diagrams for a periscope rifle?

a diagram of a periscope


Principle of light of a periscope use to work?

The principle behind a periscope is the reflection of light at two or more angles using mirrors to allow an observer to see objects that are not in their direct line of sight. The light enters one end of the periscope, reflects off the mirrors inside, and exits the other end, allowing the observer to see around obstacles or over barriers. This principle is based on the law of reflection, where the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.


Who is the inventor of periscope?

The periscope was invented in 1450 by Johann Gutenberg


When was the periscope invented?

The periscope was invented in 1854 by Hippolyte Marie-Davy, a French inventor. It was originally designed for use in submarines to allow for observation while remaining submerged.


When was Periscope Life created?

Periscope Life was created in 1980.


When was Periscope Entertainment created?

Periscope Entertainment was created in 2004.


When was periscope invented?

The periscope was invented in 1450 by Johann Gutenberg.