Eli Whitney Museum

David Brewster (1781 - 1868) was a Scottish scientist who made both theoretical advances in the science of light and practical inventions. Play with some of his inventions this week.

Construct a Kaleidoscope lab: a tube with mirrors that can be adjusted to multiply patterns to create images whose parts are almost unrecognizable. Experiment with mirrors, lights, lenses and objects.

Collect components to continue your experiments at home. Experiment with stereoscopes, defraction gratings, Fresnel lenses, polarized lenses... instruments and effects that Brewster explored and influenced.