Product Description

This brilliant prism comes with a removable black base and instructions for producing awesome kaleidoscopic effects. A great gift for all ages!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4342 in Toys & Games
• Brand: Tedco
• Model: 00011
• Released on: 2006-06-12
• Dimensions: .30 pounds

Features

• Comes with a removable black base and instructions
• Measures 4" tall
• Recommened Age 5 thru adult

Editorial Review
What are rainbows made of? Kids can learn about them with this Light Crystal Prism. When they hold the prism up to sunlight, they'll discover how white light gets refracted into the whole spectrum of separate colors. They can also create their own kaleidoscope using colorful cardboard cutouts and the provided instructions. Made of hard clear plastic, the 4.5-inch prism comes with a hexagonal display stand. In addition, a package insert describes the science of light refraction and reflection in language that's easy to understand. --Joan DeClaire

From the Manufacturer
Learn how to split a beam of light into a multicolored rainbow or look through the top beveled edge to reflect images into wonderful kaleidoscopic patterns. This acrylic prism comes complete with black base and complete instructions.

Customer Reviews

Light Crystal Prism
It works great. I use it to spray colors on the wall. Light
Crystal Prism is recommended for teaching about the spectrum.

Does anyone remember how magical a rainbow is?
I'm not sure what the expectation level is of those considering purchasing this prism, but I recall being handed these during science class when I was in elementary school and thinking that they were the coolest thing ever! My daughter, who is still young enough to believe that there is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, recently watched an episode of the Magic School Bus which dealt with light refraction, and this summer, saw her first atmospheric rainbow, following a rainstorm (these used to happen so much more often, when I was a child....) so I decided to get her one of these for Christmas. She thinks it's as cool as I did when I was a child. On a sunny day, we sit this in her bedroom window to catch sunlight and cast rainbows in her room (she's just hollered downstairs to tell me that there's one in her room right now!).
This prism works just as the ones we used in elementary school, and on the Magic School Bus worked - I suppose because the sun and prisms haven't changed much in these few years! They don't spray the room full of rainbows, but what happens with it is the same, amazing, beautiful, incredible thing that happened when I was a kid, and when Isaac Newton first used this tool to break apart sunlight to reveal every color known to man. That happens to be enough to impress me and my daughter.

Footnote: you will not get a full color spectrum with lamplight or fire because all light sources do not contain the full spectrum of light present in the sun. Doesn't make it any less fascinating to look at other light sources through the prism however. The prism just helps you to learn what colors are present in light from different sources.

Have fun!

Don't expect a vibrant spray of colors.
I am going to start with what this prism isn't. It isn't going to produce a shower of color all throughout your room. It isn't going to be that spectacular without a strong light source (no, your flashlight isn't going to enough...unless you have some high powered super flashlight).

Now, for what it is. This prism will show you (and your children) how light bends by doing several different experiments (just creative). If you have a good sunny spot you can set it in you will get a good rainbow as well, not a lot of them, but you will get color. Lastly, and probably the most consistent (and fun) use, the kaleidoscope effect is a lot of fun and you can take the time with your kids making many new patterns on light weight posterboard and seeing what happens.

For the price it is not a bad investment, but be warned. This is not the suncatchers you might remember from the 80's.