Sophia Learning
Sophia: Physics: Bill Nye: Bending Light
Created to teach students of the 21st century, SOPHIA is bringing science experiments straight to your fingertips. Become the commander of your own learning experiences as you take part in this interactive experiment.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Bending Light
In this physics lab learners will observe light bending as it enters a medium. Students will then be able to calculate the angle of the bent light and compare that with other learners observations for like and different mediums.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Refraction and Light Bending
This article from Khan Academy provides information about refraction and light bending. This information is intended for the Class 12 Physics Course (India).
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Refraction and the Ray Model of Light
Six complete lessons on refraction and the ray model of light. Tutorials include informational text, interactive activities, animations, and quick, interactive comprehension checks along the way.
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Refraction and Ray Model of Light: Direction of Bending
In this interactive physics tutorial about refraction, students investigate the topic of the direction of bending of a light wave.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Diamonds: The Science Behind the Sparkle
This illustrated essay from the NOVA Web site explains why the atomic structure of a diamond slows down light and produces a sparkle more brilliant than from any other colorless substance.
Optical Society
Optical Society of America: Optics for Kids: Bending Light
An experiment using a water lens that demonstrates how the eye sees an image. Accompanied by an explanation of what's happening, and a link to an article on refraction.
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Refraction and the Ray Model of Light: Boundary Behavior
In this physics tutorial, focus on the refraction of light in great detail. Explore the conceptual and mathematical principles governing the bending of waves as they cross the boundary between two media.
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Refraction/ray Model of Light: The Angle of Refraction
Focusing on the question, "By how much does light refract when it crosses a boundary?" this physics tutorial will allow students the opportunity to explore these concepts of refraction.
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)
Smile: Light and Vision
Lesson plan should be used for intermediate learners. Students work in pairs or groups to create a shoe box that will bend light.
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Refraction/ray Model of Light: Light Dispersion Prisms
A tutorial which introduces students to the dispersion of light in more detail, and investigates the reasons why different frequencies of light bend or refract different amounts when passing through the prism.
Other
Reflection of Light
Educational site provides activities to compliment a unit on the reflection of light. Offers challenge activities that are designed to motivate and stimulate interest in the classroom.
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Convection Currents
Get a visual of convention currents with this activity. This activity allows students to observe the currents by bending light due to cold and warm water.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Graphing the Rainbow
Students are introduced to different ways of displaying visual spectra, including colored "barcode" spectra, like those produced by a diffraction grating, and line plots displaying intensity versus color, or wavelength. Students learn...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Mn Step: Why Is the Sky Blue?
Students will learn about refraction and the scattering of sunlight as it enters the atmosphere, which causes the colors in light to separate, giving us blue skies and colorful sunrises and sunsets.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Thin Lens Sign Conventions
Have you ever wondered why some people need glasses and others don't? It's because of the way light is focused by the lens in your eye. This lens, like magnifying glasses, eyeglasses, and contact lenses, is considered a thin lens.
Walter Fendt
Walter Fendt: Reflection and Refraction of Light
Defines the refraction of light and provides an applet for investigating it.
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Refraction Extravaganza!
Fourth graders learn how light waves bend differently in different mediums.
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Rainbow Candy
Make your own rainbow candy in this fun STEM activity. You will do it without using any food coloring. Instead, you will use a light-bending phenomenon called diffraction.
Optical Society
Optical Society of America: Optics for Kids: Shimmering Lenses
An experiment using Jell-O to create lenses, to see how light behaves with flat, concave, and convex lens surfaces. With an explanation of what is observed, and a link to an informative article on lenses.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Galileo's Telescope
The invention of the telescope helped change our understanding of the universe. This video segment adapted from NOVA looks at Galileo's contribution to this technology. [1:49]
Center of Science and Industry
Cosi Columbus: Bent Toward Science Refraction
Learn about refraction in this hands-on science experiment. Includes full list of materials, procedures, and scientific explanation of what happens when light moves from one material to another.
Healthline Media
Medical News Today: Articles: Eye Health: What Is Astigmatism?
Learn about astigmatism, a type of refractive error where the eye does not bend light properly, thereby causing blurred vision. Also explained are the causes, treatment, and diagnosis of astigmatism.