Light Wave Teacher Resources

Explore the behavior of light waves with a lab activity. Scholars build new vocabulary through experimentation and observation. Using different mediums, they model reflection, refraction, transmission, diffusion, and scattering of light.

Explore the behavior of light with different materials. Collaborative groups determine whether certain materials absorb, reflect, diffract, or transmit light waves. They then measure the angle of incidence and angle of reflection.

Do radio waves create light? It's more difficult to understand the things we can't see than those that we can. The simulation compares the relatively small range of visible light to the entire electromagnetic spectrum. It graphs the size...

A fabulous presentation on light is here for you. In it, learners view slides which cover many important concepts of light. They understand exactly what light is, what the main sources of light are, what opaque, transparent, and...

Light waves and sound waves are the focus of this science lesson designed for 5th graders. Besides discovering how these waves travel, learners also discover the basic properties of waves, and analyze data tables and graphs. The...

Rainbow science anyone? learners put the color specturm, frequency, light waves, and wavelengths into a light speed context. They use algebraic formulas to determine the speed of each light wave length. A great way to connect math and...

Here is a full-fledged investigation of light waves, the electromagnetic spectrum, and element spectra. Physicists research a scientist that contributed to our understanding of the behavior of light. They take notes on your lecture, and...

Here is a backyard explanation of the polarization of light. Using his porch railing, the video narrator demonstrates that if the grating is lined up with the direction of light waves, represented by a hula hoop, the waves are allowed to...

Refraction is the bending of light, changing its path. This phenomenon is caused by a change in the speed of the light waves. This video provides visual demonstrations of refraction through various media. It concludes by mentioning how...

Study diffraction patterns using CDs and DVDs! Scholars measure the diffraction patterns of a light wave as it hits a CD or DVD. Using the information, they can measure the distance between the tracks. 

How can light be both a wave and particle? A video explains the co-existing wave and particle nature of light. Using formulas discussed in previous lessons in the series, the instructor develops the formula that shows the relationship...

In this magnification worksheet, students read about how lenses magnify images and how to determine the magnification of an image. Kids divide ten by the focal length which is found to be the measurement from the center of the lens to...

Ninth graders investigate light as waves and view evidence of the types of light waves. They discuss the wave energy and wavelength of the various types of light.

A tremendous presentation on the properties of light. Young scientists are treated to slides which share a lot of fascinating information about light. This impressive PowerPoint is filled with great photos, graphics, and discussion...

Illuminate your physics class with this examination of a photovoltaic cell. Teach the structure and operation of the device using a diagram. Then make a human-powered, larger-than-life sized model of a PV cell. Learners become electrons...

Let there be light in your classroom with a video that explains that light travels in waves, the electromagnetic spectrum contains seven colors, and the color of an object depends on which light waves it reflects and absorbs. With...

This well-designed presentation covers many important aspects of the science behind light. In it, pupils view slides that have a lot of the important vocabulary associated with science, slides of famous scientists who made important...

Students discuss the light spectrum and light waves as well as how the properties of light and color have contributed to important discoveries about properties of the universe. They research the term redshift and the redshift phenomenon...

In this wave behavior worksheet, students will complete a graphic organizer that identifies the 4 behaviors of waves and the 2 types of waves. Then students will answer 5 short answer questions about the properties of light waves and...

Help your classes visualize light as a wave using an engaging video lesson. The 39th lesson of the Crash Course physics series highlights the characteristics of a light wave. The lesson continues by analyzing the behavior of waves during...

Ride the wave to an understanding of refraction! The first in a series of two inquiry-based lessons challenges learners to create transverse waves with two different types of springs. As their wave hits an object, they observe the change...

Young scholars explore constructive interference and destructive interference. In this light travel activity, students follow procedures to discover how light waves travel and experience interference.

"To understand the phenomenon of color, it helps to think about light as a wave." This is a brief and very informative instructional video on what color is and why we are able to see it. Your young scientists will learn such terms as the...