A Wonderleaf question
How does a magnifying glass make things bigger?
a real page from the book
A magnifying glass makes things look bigger by bending the light coming from them before it reaches your eyes. Your brain reads those tilted rays as if they came from a larger object, so a small bug or letter appears enlarged through the lens.
The bend happens because light changes speed as it enters glass, a trick called refraction. More rounded lenses bend rays more strongly, which is why some magnifiers show a gentle close-up while others reveal tiny hairs, dots, and scratches.
Wonder words
- lens
- rays
- refraction
- curved
Try it out
Place a clear glass of water over printed words and move it slowly until the letters swell or warp.
Read the whole picture book
Watercolour scenes, straight answers, about three minutes cover to cover.
Open the picture bookKeep wondering
- How do lenses in glasses and telescopes bend light to help us see?
- How do mirrors work?
- What makes a rainbow?
One more wonder: Why is space so dark?
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