Seagull in my teacup
My case is packed, ready for a few days away. Of course, I have not been able to go. New lockdown rules caught up with me. I wanted to go to the coast, but it was not to be. I have decided to leave my packing, if the case is there, in the corner, I feel that the holiday is imminent. On the coast the gulls will be shouting over the roof tops. Their calls will be echoing the sea-side excitement. I will miss them. There is still a ray of hope, though. Did you know that you can see a seagull in your teacup? Or in your mug or pan, come to that. I remember my physics lecturer telling me about it many years ago. I reflect on what he said every time I stare into my mug or into a pan to stir a sauce. Look for it at your next coffee break. It is to do with the reflection of light rays, from a light source, hitting the curved sides of a container. They are ‘bounced’ off at different angles and create two curved bright ‘wings’ of light. Leonardo noticed it and drew a careful diagram to e...