How Does a Periscope Work?

A periscope is built like and works much like a telescope, with a long tube containing a mirror at each end. The mirrors are fitted into the tube so that they are parallel to each other at a 45° angle to the axis, or imaginary long center line, of the tube.

More complicated periscopes have extra lenses added to enlarge the image. Submarine periscopes contain this more complicated arrangement. They have reflecting prisms at the top and bottom of the tube, with two telescopes and several lenses between the two ends, and an eyepiece at the viewing end. A submarine periscope also has a thick, rigid, waterproof casing and can stand the pressure of great depths of water.

In addition to submarines, tanks also use periscopes in wartime to navigate or look for enemy targets. Both of these vehicles have periscopes which can be raised or lowered, as well as turned around in a 360° circle.

Periscopes can also be built so they see around corners!

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30 Comments

  1. Anonymous
    Posted 2008/05/26 at 7:51 pm | Permalink

    them are cool

  2. amanda hugandkiss
    Posted 2008/06/05 at 8:33 am | Permalink

    they are cool and we r doing the in science with the most boringist of teachers!! lol

  3. shrey
    Posted 2009/05/12 at 6:14 am | Permalink

    thanks for helping me to do my project.

  4. Yoyojoe
    Posted 2008/10/09 at 3:45 pm | Permalink

    How are light waves used in periscopes?

  5. hands up soilder
    Posted 2008/10/14 at 7:08 am | Permalink

    periscopes are not cool they are weird cus we had to research them and they are soooooooooooooooooooo boring!

  6. Anonymous
    Posted 2008/11/15 at 1:52 am | Permalink

    Thhaannkyouuu!! I so needed dis for meh science hmwrk!!!Reaallly hlepful!

    Thanx!!

  7. Anonymous
    Posted 2009/01/13 at 3:04 pm | Permalink

    periscopes Rock my world

  8. Anonymous
    Posted 2009/03/11 at 1:15 pm | Permalink

    this is my homework you rock dude/dudet !!
    wooo

  9. Anonymous
    Posted 2009/04/17 at 2:57 am | Permalink

    thanks we r doin it for homework and i wasn’t sure how a periscope worked this realy helped

  10. Anonymous
    Posted 2009/05/04 at 7:29 am | Permalink

    they cool. They work good almost like sucky sucky five dola.

  11. Anonymous
    Posted 2009/06/04 at 8:29 am | Permalink

    It is so cool to have this! i WOULD GET DETENTION if i didnt get this info! so THANX!

  12. jodie smith
    Posted 2009/07/06 at 2:13 am | Permalink

    i love periscopes there amazing , my life wud suck wifout thm
    i sleep in bed with them !! && have a little portable one in my handbag

    JODIE SMITH LOVESS PERISCOPES ;) :P

    • Poopy Doo
      Posted 2010/03/03 at 4:56 am | Permalink

      Omg I love them too! and i have a portable one, i also write all kinds of facts about them in my periscope Journal!! :D I got it for my b-day

  13. Anonymous
    Posted 2009/07/20 at 7:38 am | Permalink

    But let’s say you are 500 feet beneath the water, you can’t just extend 500 feet of tubings to the surface.

    • nort me
      Posted 2010/03/02 at 1:38 pm | Permalink

      or can u..? lol dunno…

  14. Los Angeles Locksmith
    Posted 2009/08/15 at 2:58 am | Permalink

    Thanks first time heard about Periscopes !

  15. Anonymous
    Posted 2009/10/16 at 12:38 pm | Permalink

    Hi
    This is what I was looking for, but I need an explanation that uses these words:
     Light
     Light Travels
     Reflection
     Source
     Reflect
     Eyes
     Mirror
     Straight Line

    Please help me, because this has to be in on Wednesday. Thanks!

  16. Anonymous
    Posted 2009/11/30 at 5:46 pm | Permalink

    Periscopes are also known to use Triangular prisms instead of flat mirrors, however the same principles still apply. The hypotenus of the prisms must be parallel from each other, and at 45 degrees from the axis.

  17. Anonymous
    Posted 2009/12/08 at 12:37 am | Permalink

    Submarines don’t have windows either so they use the periscopes to look ahead of them, not only above the water… I think xD

  18. en
    Posted 2010/02/24 at 7:28 pm | Permalink

    Thanks for sharing this! (:

  19. Poopy Doo
    Posted 2010/03/03 at 4:47 am | Permalink

    I love this website i come on it like every day, my life wouldn’t be worth living without it, I LOVE PERISCOPES ASWELL!! please please write more about them!!! :D

  20. Poopy Doo
    Posted 2010/03/03 at 4:51 am | Permalink

    I got a portable one for my b-day, its amazing im so happy i can take it everywhere with me :) please give me more info on periscopes cos i wanna write it in my journal!! :0

  21. lizzie dizzie
    Posted 2010/03/03 at 5:02 am | Permalink

    poopy doo u need to get a lu8fe and can u plz leave my room u nutter

    • Poopy Doo
      Posted 2010/03/03 at 5:10 am | Permalink

      Kimberly I know its u, ur in my science lesson aswell as lizzie dizzie u shouldn’t mock peoples names…

  22. dizzie lizzie
    Posted 2010/03/03 at 5:04 am | Permalink

    poopy doo PLZ stop talkng about ur periscope and can u plz leave my room

    • Poopy Doo
      Posted 2010/03/03 at 5:07 am | Permalink

      God U creep i dont even know u, im not in ur room i dont even know who u r… leave me alone im just a poor kid that has an obsession with periscopes

      • dizzie lizzie
        Posted 2010/03/03 at 5:10 am | Permalink

        Amber i know its you ur in science with me

        • Poopy Doo
          Posted 2010/03/03 at 5:12 am | Permalink

          who the heck is Amber u Creep just stay away from me im telling my mummy and my pet periscope, he’s a very good listener

  23. sam weller
    Posted 2010/03/04 at 8:34 am | Permalink

    i used it for my homework

  24. Meeeeeeeeeeee.!
    Posted 2010/03/07 at 9:45 am | Permalink

    thanks soo much for helpin mee with mii homework :)

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