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Periscopes are optical devices used to see beyond one’s line of sight. They were developed in the late 1800s for military use and are still used today in various fields. They consist of a long tube with mirrors or prisms that reflect the image to the viewer. They can be portable or fixed and can be used to see above or below ground. Periscopes are simple to build and can be used in children’s games. They are available in optical stores, medical suppliers, and stores catering to hunters.
A periscope is an optical device that allows an observer to see things beyond his or her line of sight. One of its classic uses is in submarines: instead of having to surface to see what’s happening at sea level, the submarine can instead remain quietly submerged in the water and extend a periscope to look around. These devices are widely used in the military, but also in other fields, such as medicine and hunting.
Several crude versions of the periscope were used as early as the 1400s, but the modern design was developed in the late 1800s as the obvious military applications began to materialize. By World War I, they were standard equipment for many troops in the trenches and were also used in submarine warfare.
Periscopes consist of a long tube that holds mirrors or prisms. The mirror or prism at one end captures the image and bends or reflects it so it can travel down the tube to strike the mirror or prism at the other end, bending the image again so it can meet the eye of the viewer. If the tube is extremely long, magnifiers can be used to enlarge it so the viewer can see clearly. These devices can be portable, such as those used in the trenches during World War I, or they can be fixed in a housing such as a tank or submarine.
People can use periscopes to see above their current location, allowing them to stay hidden and protected behind armor or a wall, and they can also be used to look underground and around corners. The device can be camouflaged so that it is not easily visible to distant observers, ensuring that the viewer’s position is not revealed.
The science behind this instrument is quite simple, and children who are being introduced to basic optics are sometimes encouraged to build one to experiment with the principles. They can also be an immensely useful aid to some children’s games, such as games where children want to be able to observe a situation while staying hidden.
Optical stores sometimes carry periscopes or kits that can be used to make them, and specialized versions are also available from medical suppliers and stores that cater to hunters. While the device is famous for its use on submarines, most navies today actually prefer to use other imaging devices.
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