3D Shades: A fun and easy project!

Gentlemen! I've come to the realization that this blog needs some more pizzazz. This first project is perhaps one of the most simple and elegant for the sapient physicist, partly because of the fact that even I can hardly explain what is going on. If you're like me and you have a spare collection of 3D glasses from all the times you went to see Avatar, then this project will be jolly simple.

I love the guy with the pizza.

That's because all you need for this project is:

• Two pairs of 3D glasses
• Glue

As Porky Pig was once known for saying, "That's all folks!" Unfortunately though, there's never a happy ending. If you've never glued something together, then this project could easily turn into a mess. Or, if you cherish your collection of esoteric spectacles and need to keep your only two pairs of 3D glasses, then that's completely understandable. Or, perchance, the only glue in your household is the small jar of Elmer's that you enjoyed dipping your carrots into as a child. If one or more of these applies to you, then you have my permission to temporize doing this project until you have the necessary supplies. If none of these apply, then let's get on to the nitty-gritty, shall we?

The first step is to conglomerate your 3D glasses. Mine are of the "Real D 3D" variety, thus I cannot guarantee that this set of instructions will work with any other kind. In order to check, put the glasses together lens-to-lens and keep an eye out for any opalescence. They should look like this:

Or they may look like this:

Once you have your two 3D glasses, you must break one of them, preferably the sweaty pair your friend used while watching the diaphoretic movie. The best way to do this is to bend the arms of the glasses back until they pop off. Once one arm comes off, do the same to the other arm. Your glasses will then look like this:

At this point, your polarizing filters are easily retrievable and ready to go. This is a good time to clean them off. Personally, I recommend a quick wipe with 91% isopropyl alcohol. You can also curtail the little notches on the filters, I find that nosehair trimmers work exceptionally well at doing this.

Put the filters over their respective spot on the pristine pair of 3D glasses. This may require a fair amount of fidgeting to get right.

I have no clue why the next photo is sideways.

Now get out your adhesives and glue those suckers on! Elmer's actually works, but it tends to peel off over time. For the pair in this post I used Locktite Plastic Epoxy, but that's only because I had it on hand.

I have no clue why the previous photo is sideways.

In order to keep the frames flat I used helping hands, but holding a pair of glasses for five minutes while waiting for glue to dry isn't exactly onerous. Since you're now done, put your shades on and make faces at yourself in the mirror!

Problem?

The most interesting thing about these glasses is the fact that they change colors depending on the angle you look at them. This photo, taken with a sheet of glass under the glasses, clearly demonstrates that effect.

It's science.

Why does it do this? I'm not exactly sure, but I believe it has to do with the different colors being polarized at different angles. Both lenses are a dark purple from the front, which verifies that the lenses would be the same color at the same angle. However, if someone has a more logical explanation, or if I'm missing something obvious here, then feel free to edify me.

Until next time,

Grant