How to make a concave lens from a plastic bottle

Making a Curved Focal Point from a Plastic Jug

Making a curved focal point from a plastic jug is like making a sunken mirror, yet with a few changes. Here is a step-by-step manual to assist you with making a simple sunken focal point utilizing a plastic container:

Materials you'll require:

• Plastic container (transparent and with no patterns)
• Scissors or utility blade
• Sandpaper (different grits, from coarse to fine)
• Water
• Dish soap
• Microfiber material or lens cleaning fabric

Stage 1: Setting up the jug

Remove the label and any excess cement from the plastic container. Ensure the container is clean and dry prior to proceeding. Pick a container with a smooth, cylindrical shape for improved results.

Stage 2: Forming the focal point

With the scissors or utility blade, carefully cut out the lower part of the plastic jug. This round piece will become your sunken focal point. The curvature will naturally give it a concave shape.

Stage 3: Smoothing the edges

Use sandpaper to smooth out the cut edges of the plastic jug. Begin with a coarse grit sandpaper to eliminate any roughness, and then gradually move to finer grits to achieve a smoother finish.

Stage 4: Cleaning the focal point

Set up a combination of water and a few drops of dish soap in a bowl. Dip the curved focal point into the solution and use a microfiber fabric or lens cleaning material to clean its surface. Rinse it with clean water and allow it to dry.

Your handcrafted inward focal point produced using a plastic container is now ready to use! Remember that the quality of the focal point won't be as exact as an expertly fabricated focal point, however, it can still show some essential optical properties. You can experiment with the focal point by setting it before objects to see how it alters the light going through it.

Keep in mind, this Do-It-Yourself curved focal point is to a greater extent a tomfoolery and instructive trial as opposed to an accuracy optical device.