A pinhole camera is a camera without a lens.  It lets light into a sealed box through a tiny aperture (pinhole) that projects an inverted image onto photo-sensitive paper.  Virtually any container capable of excluding light can become a pinhole camera.  This resource gives explicit directions on how to build one out of an oatmeal box, take photos with it, and even develop them in a darkroom.  Experiments with pinhole cameras help students see how a beam of light projects from a point source to a particular spot.  The accumulation of all the rays passing through the pinhole forms an image at the film plane.  This is a basic principle of the ray model of light.  Did we mention it's fun because the camera really works?

• Physics First Ray Optics -- Reflection and Refraction of Light Unit
• Conceptual Physics Ray Optics -- Reflection and Refraction of Light Unit
• Algebra-Based Physics Ray Optics -- Reflection and Refraction of Light Unit
• AP/Calculus-Based Physics Ray Optics -- Reflection and Refraction of Light Unit

A pinhole camera is a camera without a lens.  It lets light into a sealed box through a tiny aperture (pinhole) that projects an inverted image onto photo-sensitive paper.  Virtually any container capable of excluding light can become a pinhole camera.  This resource gives explicit directions on how to build one out of an oatmeal box, take photos with it, and even develop them in a darkroom.  Experiments with pinhole cameras help students see how a beam of light projects from a point source to a particular spot.  The accumulation of all the rays passing through the pinhole forms an image at the film plane.  This is a basic principle of the ray model of light.  Did we mention it's fun because the camera really works?

• Physics First Microscopy and Optical Devices Unit
• Conceptual Physics Microscopy and Optical Devices Unit
• Algebra-Based Physics Microscopy and Optical Devices Unit
• AP/Calculus-Based Physics Microscopy and Optical Devices Unit

Classroom Project                                                                 Grades 6-12
A pinhole camera is a camera without a lens.  It lets light into a sealed box through a tiny aperture (pinhole) that projects an inverted image onto photo-sensitive paper.  This resource gives explicit directions on how to build a pinhole camera out of an oatmeal box, how to take photos with it, and even develop them in a darkroom.  Experiments with pinhole cameras help students see how a beam of light projects from a point source to a particular spot.  The accumulation of all the rays passing through the hole forms an image at the film plane.  This is a basic principle of the ray model of light.  Did we mention it's fun because the camera really works?
**NOTE:Constructing the camera itself poses little safety concern, but take precautions if using the chemicals required for an amateur darkroom.  For a link to safety information, click on the blue title above (the ComPADRE Detail Page).

• Physical Sciences K-8 Microscopy and Optical Devices Unit