======Burning Paper with a Convex Lens======


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**Materials: **{{$demo.materials_description}}\\
**Difficulty: **{{$demo.difficulty_description}}\\
**Safety: **{{$demo.safety_description}}\\
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**Alternative titles:** Focusing Sunlight with a Convex Lens
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====Summary====                   
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====Procedure====  
  - Put on sunglasses for eye protection (Note: do not look at sun directly or through convex lens).  
  - Take the experiment outdoors on a sunny day.  
  - Place a sheet of paper on a flat, safe surface.  
  - Hold the convex lens above the paper so sunlight passes through it.  
  - Adjust the distance between the lens and paper until the light forms the smallest, brightest spot possible.  
  - Keep the focal point steady on the paper until it begins to smolder and burn.  
  - Extinguish the fire once the demonstration is complete.



====Links==== 
CONVEX LENS AS BURNING GLASS - Make Me Scientific: 
{{youtube>1BbFMKE5vlc?}}\\

📄 Burning up the Paper with a Magnifying Glass - RonyesTech: [[https://www.ronyestech.com/2020/05/burning-up-paper-with-magnifying-glass.html]]\\

====Variations====
  * Try using different colors or thicknesses of paper (darker paper burns more easily).  
  * Experiment with different sizes or curvatures of convex lenses.  
  * Test if artificial light sources (like a strong lamp) can focus enough energy to burn paper.



====Safety Precautions====
  * Perform only outdoors in a clear area, away from flammable materials.  
  * Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from bright concentrated light.  
  * Always supervise children during this activity.  
  * Extinguish any flames immediately after the demonstration.




====Questions to Consider====
  * Why does the convex lens make sunlight more intense? (Because it focuses parallel rays of sunlight to a single point, concentrating the energy.)  
  * Why does darker paper burn more easily than white paper? (Dark paper absorbs more light energy, converting it to heat faster.)  
  * Could ordinary flat glass burn paper the same way? (No, because it does not converge light to a focal point like a convex lens does.)