REGIONAL SCIENCE CENTRE |
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MIRROR MAGIC |
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All materials reflect some of the light that falls on them. Mirrors
reflect light well because they are smooth and shiny. The history of mirrors dates back to
ancient times when mankind first saw reflections in a pond or river and considered it
magic. Mirrors have a long history of use both as household objects and as objects of
decoration. Long before man was able to make mirrors out of glass, mirrors made of metal
were used. The earliest mirrors were hand mirrors. Those large enough to reflect the whole
body did not appear until the 1st century AD. Mirrors make rooms come alive! 'Aranmula
Kannadi'; Kerala's legacy for world renowned technology of the unique metal mirrors are
evidences of Kerala's rich culture and metallurgical traditions. These cultural and
historic values are ratified by the British Museum in London by showcasing an Aranmula
Kannadi in its collection.
Ambulances have words written backwards on them so they can be read the right way around in the car's mirror. A convex mirror looks like an upside-down bowl in which objects look bigger in the centre. In a concave mirror, which has a bowl shape, objects look smaller in the centre. The concave parabolic mirror is the principal element of a reflecting telescope. You can assess this fact on your own image, standing in front of the exhibit 'Changing Image'. Concave mirrors make you look taller, and convex mirrors make you look shorter. The huge Kaleidoscope into which you can duck your head in, gives you innumerable images of yourself and your companion on the other end alike. You would have seen your image in the mirror waving its left hand when you wave your right hand. In 'true image’ the image you see in the mirror will just be imitating the right action. Moving on to the horizontal image, you see yourself horizontally placed in the mirror. Further, when you stand in front of another mirror you can see yourself 'upside down' in it.
Here you will also
see your side image and how you are viewed from back. In 'Vanishing Image' you will be
astonished to see your image running out of vicinity as you move on to a particular
position. There is great fun when you sit around a dining table in company of your mirror
clones in 'Dine With Yourself'. Mirror Maze, the centre of attraction in the gallery
offers you a challenge to find the way out of a specially created forest. Mirrors are
arranged to create an illusion of complex pathways. It will make you feel lost in the
middle of forest. multiple image distortion mirrors make people laugh, relax and wonder.
Fun mirrors are a great addition to a public waiting room, reception area, doctor's
office, hospital playroom, pediatric exam room, medical office, children's retail store,
family restaurant and any place you want to make visitors smile including a science
centre. The hall of Mirror Magic is an excellent example of this. |
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