
Hand-Drawn Holograms on Plastic
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Can you draw a hologram by hand without a laser or darkroom? All you need is a compass with two metal points and a piece of clear acrylic plastic.
You draw a small letter on the plastic. Then you set one compass point on the letter. You drag the other point across the surface to scratch a shallow arc. You repeat this many times, placing the fixed point at different spots on the letter each time.
Hold the scratched plate in sunlight and tilt it slowly. At a certain angle, the letter appears to float deep inside the plastic. Flip the plate upside down and the image floats above it instead.
Hypothesis
The hypothesis is that a hologram can be created by hand with a compass and some plastic.
Method & Materials
You will obtain a small piece of acrylic plastic and a good, non-wobbly set of "dividers" (a compass with two points). You will then draw a simple pattern such as the letter "V" near the lower edge of the plate. You will then use the compass to make overlapping arc-shaped scratches.
You will need a small piece of acrylic plastic, a good, non-wobbly set of "dividers" (a compass with two points), and a marker.
Results
The experiment was successful in creating a hologram with nothing more than a compass and some plastic. The hologram appears to float deep within the plastic and can be viewed in sunlight.
Why do this project?
This science project is unique because it allows you to create a hologram with nothing more than a compass and some plastic.
Also Consider
Experiment variations to consider include creating a hologram with a different pattern, such as a star or a circle, or using a different type of plastic.
Full project details
Additional information and source material for this project are available below.Related videos
These videos explain the science behind this project and demonstrate key concepts used in the experiment.
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