Optical Society
Optical Society of America: Optics for Kids: Mirror, Mirror on the Wall
A simple experiment that clearly demonstrates angles of reflection when light hits a mirror. Accompanied by a good explanation of what's happening, and a link to an article on reflection.
Science is Fun
Science Is Fun: Floating Soap Bubbles
In this experiment you learn how to generate carbon dioxide inside a container, and float soap bubbles above the gas. Once the bubbles are suspended, it is possible to observe them closely, which is normally very difficult to do....
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Fourth Grade Science
This customizable digital textbook covers topics related to fourth-grade science. It is Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) aligned.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Eye Disease and Contact Lenses
Punctate keratitis is an eye disease that results in abrasions on the epithelial cornea. One of the leading causes of the disease is the overuse of contact lenses. A research team is investigating the optical properties of four new types...
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Reflection and Refraction Questions
This is a 10-question exercise/quiz pertaining to reflection and refraction.
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas Mc Donald Observatory: Mirror, Mirror
In this activity, students test the Law of Reflection based on experimental evidence. However, the back-silvered glass mirrors present a twist and offer them a challenge to work out what happened as the light traveled into and out of the...
Boston University
Bu: Optics: Geometric Optics
Several short descriptions of demonstrations which illustrate principles of geometric optics (many of which focus upon refraction).
Ministry of Education and Employment of Spain
Red Escolar: Perimetros
In Spanish. This site has a simple explanation on how to find the perimeter of a plane figure. It also contains an activity of following the path of a light and a brief biography of Oenopides de Chios.
Georgia State University
Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Reflection and Refraction
Reflection and refraction are explained with an experiment that uses a sheet of paper, cardboard, and other common materials.
Pennsylvania State University
Penn State Graduate Program in Acoustics: Reflection From Mirrors
Included here are illustrations of reflections from a plane mirror, a concave mirror and a convex mirror.
University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota: How Does Light Travel?
Contains a four step procedure to deriving the law of reflection using algebra, Fermat's principle, and calculus (simple derivatives). This is good for an in-class theoretical exercise.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Mn Step: Reflection Race: Exploring Reflection of Light
An interesting and engaging activity where students work in groups with a laser pointer and small mirrors. They must use their knowledge of angles of reflection to bounce the laser beam from mirror to mirror until it hits a target at the...
Mocomi & Anibrain Digital Technologies
Mocomi: Reflection and Refraction of Light
What happens when a ball is thrown against a wall? This narrative illustrates how light is reflected or refracted in different circumstances.
Optical Society
Optical Society of America: Optics for Kids: Guiding Light Optical Fiber
This experiment demonstrates the concept of total internal reflection, using basic materials. Accompanied by a detailed explanation of what's happening, and links to articles on reflection and refraction.
Optical Society
Optical Society of America: Optics for Kids: Total Internal Reflection
An investigation into the total internal reflection of light, using a laser pointer. Accompanied by an explanation of what's happening, a discussion of Snell's Law, and links to additional information.
Bill Nye
Bill Nye: Mirror, Mirror
In this tutorial, Bill Nye uses a mirror to help the learner understand how our brain processes images.
Optical Society
Optical Society of America: Optics for Kids: Blue Sky Red Sunset
An experiment where light is shone through a bottle of water, and then milk added, to see how this affects the path the light takes (with links to articles on reflection and refraction that explain what is happening).
Optical Society
Optical Society of America: Optics for Kids: Make a Light Fountain
A simple experiment that demonstrates the concept of total internal reflection, and shows how light can travel around curves and corners, as it does in fiber-optic cables. Accompanied by an explanation of what's happening.
Bill Nye
Bill Nye: Pond, James Pond
Try this at-home science experiment to learn how to see through the mirror made by a pond's surface.