Astronomy > Stellar Astronomy
DCS# 8C20.40

GRAVITATIONAL LENS

gravitational lens

APPARATUS
wine glass base
202-10-B
mini maglite
202-02-D1
short optical bench with lens holders
113-01-B
video camera
206

DESCRIPTION
Pass the wine glass lens in front of the point source of light.  The image will be an arc or two or a ring, similar to the images produced by a gravitational lens.

Or, pass the wine glass in front of an photo of galaxies on the overhead projector/document camera.

Or, pass the wine glass around the class with a grid or dot on a piece of paper.

REFERENCES

TPT 34(9),555.
AJP 49(7) 652.
AJP 63(6) 536.

Hubble image showing gravitational lensing:
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/newsdesk/archive/releases/2006/23/image/a