The kaleidoscope is a tube of mirrors containing loose colored beads or pebbles, or other small colored objects. The viewer looks in one end and light enters the other end, re
…flecting off the mirrors. Typically there are two rectangular lengthways mirrors. Setting of the mirrors at 45° creates eight duplicate images of the objects, six at 60°, and four at 90°. As the tube is rotated, the tumbling of the colored objects presents the viewer with varying colors and patterns. Any arbitrary pattern of objects shows up as a beautiful symmetric pattern because of the reflections in the mirrors. A two-mirror model yields a pattern or patterns isolated against a solid black background, while a three-mirror (closed triangle) model yields a pattern that fills the entire field. Also, 4 mirror patterns may be used, as well as colored oils in cells, wands, even silk scarves. It was invented in the 19th century by Sir David Brewster. He named it from two Greek words meaning 'beautiful' and 'form', and added the word scope to show that it was something that you look through. It is basically a tube lined with mirrors set at angles to each other. If someone looked in one end then the light would come up from the other end and reflect of the mirrors. The closer the mirrors are together the more images or patterns. For example: Setting the mirrors at 45˚ then you would see eight patterns or images. If you set the mirrors at 60˚ then you would see six images or patterns and if you set the mirrors at 90˚ then you would only see four images or patterns. Usually there are 2 rectangular mirrors set lengthways but there can be more mirrors depending on the type of kaleidoscope. (MORE) 
