Water Bottle illuminates partly hidden image

  • Context: High School 
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the phenomenon of improved visibility of clouds when looking through a plastic water bottle. Participants explore the reasons behind this effect, considering aspects of magnification and light behavior. The context includes observational experiences and personal interpretations rather than formal scientific analysis.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant observes that holding a plastic water bottle up to the eye allows for a clearer view of clouds outside, suggesting a potential magnification effect.
  • Another participant questions what "better" means in this context, asking if it refers to brightness, size, or clarity.
  • A different participant notes that the field of view is decreased, indicating that the user is looking at a magnified portion of the original view, similar to a magnifying glass.
  • One participant agrees that the effect seems to be related to magnification.
  • Another participant describes "better" as improved quality and detail, suggesting that the light rays are less diverged and more parallel, reducing eye strain for focusing.
  • One participant proposes the possibility of a small aperture effect influencing visibility.
  • A participant mentions being near-sighted but notes that a photo taken shows the clouds clearly, indicating that the visual effect may not be universally perceived.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that magnification plays a role in the observed effect, but there is no consensus on the precise mechanisms or definitions of "better." Some participants propose different interpretations and factors that may contribute to the phenomenon.

Contextual Notes

Participants express varying levels of understanding regarding the optical principles involved, and there are unresolved questions about the specific effects of the water bottle's shape and material on light behavior.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in optics, visual perception, or informal discussions about everyday phenomena may find this thread engaging.

Feather17
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At work, I have my plastic cheap blinds shut in the orientation of siding on a house. My office is only lit by a lamp. Outside is a sunny day. From my view, directly infront of the window, sitting down, facing north, around mid to late day is of vauge reminisce of clouds in the blue strips of light that gets through the blinds.
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But when I hold my empty plastic water bottle up to my eye, I can see the clouds outside drastically better! I have pictures on my phone of this but don't know how to upload them on here. Anyways, does anyone know what's going on, and why this works?
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My observations are that:
1. the orieniation of the water bottle does not effect anything.
2. reversing the blinds the same effect is seen except down low at the cars in the lower half of the window where light gets through that reaches the eyes.
3. Water bottles have slight magnification it appears.
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I googled magnification some and I think that is where the answer is.
 
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Feather17 said:
But when I hold my empty plastic water bottle up to my eye, I can see the clouds outside drastically better!

What does 'better' mean in this context? Brighter? Larger? Clearer?
 
Your field of view is decreased. You are looking at a magnified portion of your original view. A magnifying glass would literally do the same thing
 
Sounds like good old magnification!
 
Better as in improved quality, more information. I could claim the cloud looks like something where as before you cloud barely make a claim a cloud was there. It doesn't not appear larger or brighter to the naked eye just you can get more information.

Yes. Thanks for reply. I looked up how magnifying glass works. And I do think the Rays are less diverged and more parallel so the light from outside has more detail due to the eye not having to strain to focus.
 
I wonder if you're getting a small aperature effect.

Are you near-sighted?
 
Yes. But I took a photo of it and it show up great. Every body I told when I got home blew me off until I showed them the picture then they were like wow.
 
You could upload the photo here.
 

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