Library Workshop Review: Movie Projector
Updated: 2 days ago
During our September workshop, STEM enthusiasts explored the fascinating mechanics of optics by building their own working movie projectors!
How Does a Projector Actually Work?
The participants first explored how light travels and how lenses bend and focus light. They discovered that a convex lens can make an image appear much larger—just like the lenses used in real projectors and cameras.
Then came the exciting part: building their own!
With a little bit of measuring, assembling, and testing, the participants put their mini projectors together. Once everything was ready, they switched off the lights and started experimenting:
Would the picture appear on the wall?
Could they make it bigger?
What happened if they moved the lens?
Why was the image upside down?
There were lots of “Wow!” moments as the participants discovered that small changes could make a big difference to the projected image. Some quickly found the right position, while others experimented with different distances and adjustments until they got a clear picture.
Learning by Doing
Most importantly, the participants were learning by doing. They weren't just being told how optics work—they were building, testing, making mistakes, trying again, and discovering the answers for themselves.
It was fantastic to see so many curious young minds getting excited about the science behind something we often take for granted. From a tiny picture to a big image on the wall, the participants experienced first-hand how science and creativity can come together to make something amazing!
A huge thank you to all the children and families who joined us and made the afternoon so much fun. We hope everyone went home with a new appreciation for the fascinating world of light and optics—and perhaps a little more curiosity about how the technology around us works!
See you at our next KoruSTEM workshop!
