Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

We all know that light bends around corners. If this is true then there should be a spot in the middle of the shadow of a circular body. So if want to know how can I do this experiment at home and what new things I can discover from this experiment. Is there anything hidden in this spot?

Hello, there!
There is a relatively simple set-up that requires a meter stick, laser pointer, a magnifying lens, and a flashcard though there are many ways to alter this set-up, such as using a candle as the light source. This is the video example, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txepNdODNVc. Basically, a possible exploration would be to change the distance between light and lens and see if there is an effect on the visibility of the spot.

I hope that helps!
-Kayli Masuda

Here is another site that explains how to set up an experiment to observe Poisson's spot using a meterstick, binder clips, laser, pin, and paper: http://physicsed.buffalostate.edu/pubs/ ... /spot.html
Another possible experiment is exploring if the intensity and size of the laser affects the spot.

Have fun!