By: Natalie Gundrum, Christian Novales, Nate Bublitz, and Heather Schultz

            Look into the kaleidoscope through the viewing hole.  How many images do you see?  Switch the clear, wooden circles.  Now what patterns are created? 

With the mirrors placed at 60-degree angles,

in a three-mirror system, rotational symmetry is shown.

When rotating the kaleidoscope, the colorful pieces fall

into different positions, creating new and exciting designs. 

However, while viewing the pattern in the scope, notice that each part, or section, of the pattern is symmetrical to the other because as a person looks into a three-mirror kaleidoscope, the image is reflected throughout the entire field of view.  The three-mirror system creates a “honeycomb” image that is continuous throughout the whole view.  When the mirrors are set up in a 60-60-60 degree equilateral triangle, the kaleidoscope produces the simplest of repetitive images.