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Grades K–2 · Everyday Life

How does a magnifying glass make small things look bigger?

A magnifying glass helps us see small details. Its clear lens is curved. Light from a small thing passes through the lens before it reaches our eyes.

J34 visual explanationA small leaf is close to a curved clear lens. Light bends through the lens. The bigger view stays the right way up, while the leaf stays the same size.A small leaf can look biggerSmall leafSame leafCurved clear lensView through the lensLook throughthe lensThe view is bigger; the leaf has not grown

In the diagramA small leaf can look biggerSmall leafSame leafCurved clear lensView through the lensLook throughthe lensThe view is bigger; the leaf has not grown

The small leaf stays small. The curved lens bends its light, giving a bigger view that stays the right way up.

The curved lens bends the light. With the thing close enough to the lens, we see a larger view that stays the right way up. Tiny lines can become easier to see.

The thing itself has not grown. The lens has changed how its light reaches us. Moving the lens and the thing changes the view. The picture shows a larger view of the same small leaf.

About this explanation

Starting knowledge: Recognize that light lets us see an object.

Sources

  • OpenStax, Rice University — The Simple Magnifier
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