BL Workshop
Make a Microscope
Click here for a PDF version of these instructions.
- Paper punch
- Thin piece of cardboard (a postcard or file card)
- Aluminum foil
- Needle
- Toothpick
- Petroleum jelly
- Glue
- Eyedropper
- Distilled water
- Scissors
- Flashlight or other light source
Step One: Punch a quarter-inch hole in the cardboard. Cut and glue a piece of foil on the card to cover the hole. Do not get any glue over the hole. Gently poke the needle through the foil. Make the pinhole round and smooth; the more round the hole, the better your microscope will work.
Step Two: With the tip of a toothpick, carefully pread a thin layer of petroleum jelly just around the hole on both sides of the foil. Make sure to keep the hole open, free of jelly. With an eyedropper, squeeze a drop of clean distilled water into the pinhole. The petroleum jelly should hold the water in the pinhole. You may have to tap the card gently to get the water
in the hole.
Step Three: Point the flashlight upward. Place the object you want to study over the light. Look at the object through the water drop.
Most of us don't need a magic trick to make money vanish.
Mar. 27, 2007 at 5:10 am
Does it can see a cell?
Mar. 31, 2007 at 6:47 pm
I like your hobbies you hav on this website!!!!!
Apr. 1, 2007 at 5:50 pm
Cool scope!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Apr. 3, 2007 at 6:20 am
this going to be cool
Apr. 5, 2007 at 4:10 pm
SOOOOOOOOOO COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL
Apr. 10, 2007 at 7:32 pm
that’s so primitive, it’s cool
Apr. 12, 2007 at 8:03 pm
this will be cool it will probly be expensive for distilled water though
Apr. 13, 2007 at 11:32 am
By using it can we see a cell?
Apr. 29, 2007 at 2:56 pm
Does it really work?
May. 23, 2007 at 7:27 pm
Of course it does!!!!!!!!!!!
Nov. 3, 2007 at 12:43 pm
the scop was able to see cells