Infinity Mirror
(Option 1. Journal)
My Physics project will be about Infinity Mirrors. For my ELA connection, I will be doing the Journal. The Journal will help me keep me track on how I'm performing with my project and be more organized. My journal will include project ideas, background research, thoughts, details on my experiment (materials and procedure), results, conclusion, etc. This journal will mostly help me keep my information organized. Lastly, on how I'm performing with project each day as I work on it and help me be more engage on how my project works.
Entry #1
8/27/13
Our teacher informed us about the PBL project and deciding which project we will want to work during this school year. I chose infinity mirror since it seemed an interesting project on finding the knowledge on how this illusion works. I researched more about this subject and found a variety of ideas that I could do for my project. Instead of doing the illusion of using two parallel mirrors and an object in between. I decided I would use LED lights to create an optical illusion. Lastly, this experiment will require a lot of research on how this illusion works and work on building the infinity mirror with LED lights.
This link shows the precise procedure and how my final product should look http://www.rioleo.org/infinity/
Entry #2
9/14/13
I researched background research on my topic and found out new equations and examples on how infinity mirrors work, which is more on the reflection between these mirrors. I found out new terms that explain this illusion (focal length, focal point and the law of reflection). As I researched further more, I realized that it requires a lot of reading and understanding this concept. In infinity mirrors, images either drift off the mirror after various repetitions or become too dim to be seen, since less and less the light is contributing to the object/image. A challenge that could be in project is finding the proper alignment of my LED lights as I start building. However, it wouldn't be that difficult since the mirror will do most of the work. Link on background research on the basics of infinity mirrors http://skullsinthestars.com/2011/07/30/infinity-is-weird-even-in-infinity-mirrors/
Entry #3
9/21/13
For my experiment, I needed to find some ideas on how to make my infinity mirror and have a variety on which materials to use. I found many videos on how to create my infinity mirror, most of them are similar. The only difference will be the size and the materials that were used. I'm planning on doing my infinity mirror on using plexiglass, though a real glass will give a cleaner result. I believe the plexiglass will be more resistant if it falls compared to the glass which might break easily. The shape of my infinity mirror might be either a circular shape or rectangular/square shape. This link helped get ideas on what materials to use and the video gave me feedback on how to construct my infinity mirror step by step http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-An-Infinity-Mirror/
Entry #4
9/25/13
For my social studies task, I needed to do some research about the history of mirrors and how it contributes in helping today's society. I learned how mirrors were seen at first, men saw reflections in a source of water (river or pond), believing it was magic. From this, the idea of mirrors came in and different kinds of mirrors were built. There wasn't much information on how infinity mirrors was found, it only explained how it worked. Also, this photo shows how the infinity mirror works with LED lights and how it reflects different lights.
Entry #5
10/5/13
An important thing that should be taken into consideration is what the outcome will be in as I build the infinity mirror. In a way I have to prove my reasoning and the law of reflection as I do the experiment. It may seem simple, but it has some constraints regarding the building part. I will seek some help from my teacher to guide me as I work in my experiment and be confident on what I'm doing. Something that I realized was that this law is applied in our daily lives, when we look at the mirror, rear view of our car, mirrors in a dancing studio, etc.. Mirrors have helped greatly with each individual and has brought many advantages whenever we work in an experiment. Without glass, many of the objects wouldn't be that durable and clear (since you can see what it contains inside).
Entry #6
10/11/13
During these past days, I did more research on videos on different designs of this infinity mirrors. Many of them are very spectacular and my goal is to make one similar like that. Maybe I should use different colors of LED lights and make the illusion colorful and make it appealing to the viewers. I wonder if this might harm the human eye, since it omits a high current of light. That's one of the things that should be considered before staring at it for a long period of time. Lastly, in one of the videos I realized I will need a soldering iron to solder the LED lights.
Entry #7
10/17/13
I found the soldering iron, however, I will need to practice on how to solder appropriately without burning the ends of the LED component. As the day approaches to the day I have to start working on my infinity mirror, I need to have everything prepared and know the concepts very well. It seems is a hard experiment, but in reality is not. You need to have skill in building anything and of course, have the patience. I notice that the more I research, many have tried building the infinity mirror and have come out with many designs. Due to this, it will be easier to follow along the variety of videos that other people had made.
Entry #8
10/22/13
Looked for what materials I will use and as I did this, I noticed that I will need a power source on how the LED lights will turn without being connected to an outlet. That might be one of the frustrations that I will encounter as I work with my project. This project might help me in future career goals because it will help me how to correctly research and have the appropriate materials for making it functional. Also, this project will prepare me to become more organized and learn furthermore the basics of reflection, which most of us somehow have an idea but we don't know the reason behind it. Though in this project, it will explain more and it will make clear out the doubts. This infinity mirror looks fun to do and will be great to use as decoration. I can't wait to start building my infinity mirror and see how it will look like when is finished.
Entry #9
11/1/13
Started working on task 8 and 9, and did further research about my school and how it contributes in different activities. I started gathering all the materials I would need for my project and asked for my teacher for some assistance. I managed to get some materials, but there were still some missing. During the weekend, I went to Lowe's and Home Depot to buy the remaining materials like the plexiglass and LED lights. These materials were a little bit expensive, but these are the materials that will contribute to the experiment greatly. On the following weekend I would begin on constructing my project, but before doing it, I will need to make sure to read the procedure numerous times and understand it. Afterwards, I will have an idea on how to start and have a clear sense of my project.
Entry #10
11/6/13
Today was the day I started working on my infinity mirror. At first it was somehow complicated since I had to make precise measurements of the base and connecting the right circuits for the LED lights. Though at the end, I managed to complete my frame after several hours work. There were some simple mistakes, but were easy to fix them since it was mostly in the lights and choosing the right position on making the illusion of the LED lights and the mirror. In my experiment, I learned the basics of reflection and how it works. In a way it can be said is an optical illusion since the mirror reflects anything that is placed in front of it and if there's a mirror behind it, then it creates several images of that object. Everyone has an idea on how it occurs, but is sometimes difficult to explain it since it uses a lot of of laws to understand it. However, my project gave me the advantage to understand more and clear my doubts.