Aspirin Crystals Under Polarized Light
Nov 01, 2018 • 6:43 PM UTC
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nataliedurgin
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I have always been interested in polarized light and wondered if the foldscope could be made to incorporate it. Knowing nothing about optics, I was pretty sure that the viewing situation would be too compressed for this to work…but I still wanted to try. I purchased two plastic, linear polarizing sheets from Edmonds Optics. I still need lots of practice creating and mounting crystals as well as focusing the foldscope after incorporating the polarizers, but the results were more dramatic than I expected.
Aspirin crystals under polarized light
Aspirin crushed between two spoons
Aspirin crystals forming in the glass. Aspirin was first dissolved in warm water and then crystals began form as the water cooled.
First linear polarizer inserted between slide and lens.
Second linear polarizer placed behind slide. Shown at an angle to the polarizer in front.
Second polarizer orthogonal to the first polarizer. Full occlusion.
Putting the foldscope right up to the light did not work as it usually does. I had to place the light in the bottom of the jar then rest the foldscope on top. This allowed my hands freedom control the mobile phone camera.
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