How to Measure Optical Distortion
Optical Distortion is defined as a defect in an optical system. In this defect, the magnification of lines causes lines that are typically straight and sitting at an angular distance from a central point, to look curved. Optical distortion can be overcome by getting rid of the interfaces between the air and the glass. These interfaces allow light to refract and this, in turn, causes the optical distortion.
Here is the way to measure optical distortion.
First, you will need to get a grid that has close lines and put that grid onto a surface that is level. You can make one of these yourself using a pen and paper. The spaces of the grid shouldn’t be any bigger than one sixteenth of an inch apart.
Next, place a stain-free glass container over the grid. A good container to use is a Petri dish or any other kind of quality laboratory glassware.
Once the glass is on the grid, use a manufacturer’s index to find the index of refraction.
Your next step is to pick a refraction liquid that has a refraction index a little bit higher than the specimen itself.
Put the specimen into the glass container that you’ve chosen. The axis of the specimen should intersect the lines of the grid at a forty five degree angle (or very close to it). Pour the refraction liquid that you chose into the glass container, but only deep enough to fully cover the specimen. You shouldn’t be able to discern the specimen and the lines of the grid should only be a little bit distorted by the specimen. Shake the container or use a sharp object to enter the enclosure to get rid of all of the air that might have been trapped in the specimen.
Now you will want to choose a refraction liquid that has an index a little bit lower than that of the specimen. Add this new liquid to the glass container slowly and stir it without stopping while looking through the specimen to see if the grid lines still look distorted. Once the grid lines stop looking distorted, take the container off the grid.
Optical Distortion is another way of saying Optical Illusion. It is what causes straight lines to look curved or for things that are far away to appear to move more slowly than images that are close to you .It is possible to measure optical distortion if you have access to a scientific lab and laboratory materials. You need to understand refraction liquid indexes and how to use specimens in laboratory experiments. Measuring optical distortion doesn’t sound like a complicated process, but it does require a little bit of scientific know-how. Measuring optical distortion can be handy for figuring out how to measure optical illusions and also how the illusion is affecting the way you see a specimen.