Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Name:Anthony Age:13 Country:U.S.A

Hello, my problem is for the Build an Infinity Mirror (https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... ml#summary) project that i'm doing for school. For the project the end results for the mirror end up looking somewhat sluggish and not clean at all. I want to try and make my end infinity mirror look much more like the one in https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... p050.shtml . This would be pretty simple as the only difference is the shape of the mirror, but as you can see the frames are much more different. In the second, much more cleaner, mirror there is no lid holding the mirror under it. Along with this the mirrors are perfectly parallel to each other because the illusion does not turn at all. It is perfectly straight. So I am wondering where I would be able to either 1. Get a circular container that would allow me to replicate what is shown in the cleaner mirror or 2. Find out how to put on the top mirror without using a lid in order to make it look much cleaner.

Thanks

Hi Anthony,

It looks in this video that to get the circular mirror you would buy a circular shaped box and then not use the lid and use some sort of other sealant (like tape maybe) to hold them together. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPK9SFr7jDQ

I think a shadow box frame and some flexible led strip lights would give you the cleaner look you are looking for. The frame already comes with the glass which you can cover with the window film, the middle insert of the frame is perfect for lining the led lights around and then place a mirror of the same size of the frame into the back of the frame, letting the cable from the lights stick out the back and then seal it up.

Here is an example of a shadow box http://www.amazon.com/Swing-Design-Chro ... 002YU15FS/ they come in all different sizes and thicknesses, they can be found at any hobby shop as well as online.

Hi Anthony,

For the mirror you're referring to, I used the lid of a paper mache box. You can get them on Amazon or at a craft store:

http://www.amazon.com/Darice-10-Inch-Pa ... B001K7N1IA

It looks like you can also get plexiglass circles on Amazon in different sizes:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_ ... ass+circle

Luckily the sizes worked out such that the piece of plexiglass was slightly bigger than the round lid - so I just rested it on the edges of the lid and used black tape to secure it in place.

Hope that helps,

Ben

Thanks you so much Ben and Megaladon for the quick and useful answers. The shadow box seems to be exactly what I was looking for and the led strips are already what I was aiming for. I am pleasently surprised that these forums would provide such quick and amazing solutions.

Thanks,
Anthony