Technology can make things look bigger — Technology, 4–6 years
Some tools help our eyes see small details. They do not make the object itself bigger; they make its image look bigger to us.
A closer look
A magnifying glass bends light so a small object sends a larger-looking picture to your eyes. The object stays the same size, but its details are easier to see. You can try this with a leaf, a thread or a tiny letter.
Why make a picture bigger?
Our eyes cannot always separate tiny details, even when there is enough light. People made magnifying tools to inspect small writing, insects, plants and materials. The problem was not that the object was missing; its details were simply too small for comfortable seeing.
Using a magnifying glass
1. Put a leaf on the table. 2. Hold the magnifying glass above one small part. 3. Move it slowly up or down until the veins look clear. 4. Compare what you see through the glass with the leaf by itself. The leaf did not grow; its image changed.
The object did not grow
It is easy to say that a magnifying glass makes a seed or letter bigger, because it looks bigger through it. That is a reasonable guess from what your eyes report. Check by placing a ruler beside the object: its real length has not changed.
Where it helps
Magnifying tools help a jeweller inspect a tiny stone, a scientist look at a small creature and a person read fine print. Some cameras and screens also enlarge details. They are useful when seeing the detail matters, but they cannot reveal a detail that was never recorded or is hidden completely.
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