Unit Plan
Synopsys

Synopsys: Optics for Kids: What Is Light?

For Students 3rd - 5th
An explanation of what light is and some of its properties.
Article
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Diamonds: The Science Behind the Sparkle

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Bubbles and Biosensors

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students learn that color swirls on the bubble surfaces are caused by refraction. Then they apply this theory to thin films in general, including porous films used in biosensors, listing factors that could change the color that become...
Handout
Georgia State University

Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Methods of Polarization

For Students 9th - 10th
At this college physics department site, the polarization of light is explained and illustrated as well as the primary methods of polarization (scattering, reflection, and refraction).
Handout
Other

Refractive Error and Presbyopia

For Students 9th - 10th
Very good information about refractive error and presbyopia. Refractive error exists when light does not focus perfectly onto the retina.
Handout
Georgia State University

Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Crossed Polarizers

For Students 9th - 10th
At this univeristy physics department site, the polarization of light is explained and illustrated. Methods for analyzing light to determine the degree of polarization are stated and explained with equations.
Interactive
Walter Fendt

Walter Fendt: Reflection and Refraction of Light

For Students 9th - 10th
Defines the refraction of light and provides an applet for investigating it.
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Light Scavengers

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this activity, students examine various materials and investigate how they interact with light. Students use five new vocabulary words (translucent, transparent, opaque, reflection and refraction) to describe how light interacts with...
Interactive
Walter Fendt

Walter Fendt: Refracting Astronomical Telescope

For Students 9th - 10th
An app for investigating the operation of a refracting telescope. The location of the eyepiece and objective lens can be altered, and the focal point and path of light through the lenses can be observed.
Activity
My Science Site

My Science Site: The Light for Sight [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This resource offers a hands-on activity for science teachers to teach about the eye and it's ability to see images. Also discusses refraction and reflection. This resource is in PDF form; requires Adobe Reader.
eBook
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: Refraction/ray Model of Light: Determination of N Values

For Students 9th - 10th
Through illustrated examples and interactive practice problems, students explore the details of Snell's Law.
eBook
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: Refraction and the Ray Model of Light: Converging Lenses

For Students 9th - 10th
The purpose of this tutorial is to summarize object-image relationships by dividing the possible object locations into five general areas or points.
eBook
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: Refraction and the Ray Model of Light: Diverging Lenses

For Students 9th - 10th
In this illustrated tutorial, students will see a specific method for constructing ray diagrams for double concave lenses.
eBook
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: Refraction/ray Model of Light: The Mathematics of Lenses

For Students 9th - 10th
Using the Lens Equation and the Magnification Equations, students determine numerical information about image distance and image size.
eBook
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: Refraction/ray Model of Light: Light Dispersion Prisms

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
Unknown Type
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Light Rays

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a quiz covering reflected, refracted, shadow, and camera rays.
Unknown Type
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: An Experiment With Light Rays and a Prism

For Students 9th - 10th
This passage will test your knowledge on reflection and Refraction - Passage 2.
Unit Plan
University of New South Wales (Australia)

University of New South Wales: School of Physics: Physclips: Geometrical Optics

For Students 9th - 10th
Physiclips thoroughly presents geometrical optics concepts like rays, refraction, Snell's law, total internal reflection, dispersion, mirrors, and lenses with animations and film clips.
Interactive
Other

Ntnu Virtual Physics Lab: Thick Lens Java Applet

For Students 9th - 10th
An interactive Java applet which allows the user to investigate the path of light through a lens shape object. The shape of the object, the index of refraction of the material, and the location of the incident rays can be altered.
Activity
Exploratorium

Exploratorium: Critical Angle

For Students 3rd - 8th
Students can see light reflected and refracted in this demonstration. They will also discover the total internal reflection of light.
Activity
Optical Society

Optical Society of America: Optics for Kids: Bending Light

For Students 3rd - 8th
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.
Article
Mocomi & Anibrain Digital Technologies

Mocomi: What Is Scattering of Light?

For Students 2nd - 8th
Do you know why the sky is blue? Article defines scattering and how it works. Explains the difference between the scattering of light and reflection or refraction.
Website
Kidport

Kidport: Light

For Students 3rd - 6th
Did you know that light is a form of energy and always travels in a straight line? Discover some more interesting facts about light.
Website
Ducksters

Ducksters: Physics for Kids: Light

For Students 1st - 9th
Kids learn about the science of light. Energy made of waves and particles called photons traveling at the top speed in the universe. What is refraction? The difference between transparent, translucent, and opaque.

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